IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


11.25 


£  m  112.0 


i.8 


JL4    III  1.6 


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Photographic 

SciencGS 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IMicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniquas  at  bibliographlquas 


The  c 
toth< 


Tha  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  the  bast 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faatures  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  images  in  tha 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 
D 
D 
D 

n 


n 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverjure  de  couleur 


Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagie 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  peiliculie 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gAographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


[~n    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planches  et/cu  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avac  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  s^rrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  ^'ji  a  iti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Las  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-dessous. 


r~n    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pelliculies 


r~~]    Pages  damaged/ 

pn    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


\/ 


U 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolor^es,  tacheties  ou  piquoes 


r~n    Pages  detached/ 


Pages  ddtachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  inigale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materit 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


rr]  Showthrough/ 

rp\  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

|~n  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

r~|  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  hav9  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieilement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  peiure, 
etc.,  cnt  M  fiimies  i  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilSeure  image  possible. 


Thai 
possi 
of  th( 
fllmii 


Origii 
beglr 
tMe  li 
sion, 
other 
first  I 
sion, 
or  illi 


The! 
shall 
TINU 
whici 

Maps 
diffei 
entire 
begir 
right 
requi 
meth 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


/ 


12X 


16X 


2ax 


26X 


30X 


a4x 


28X 


3 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Harold  CamplMll  Vaughan  IMamorial  Library 
Acadia  Univanity 


L'exemplaire  film*  f ut  reproduit  grAce  A  ia 
g<ftnArosit6  de: 

Harold  Cairpball  Vaughan  IMamorial  Library 
Acadia  Univanity 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  AtA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  t^nu  de  la  condition  et 
de  ia  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
ViB  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  filmto  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commencant  par  la 
premiere  oage  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —»>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED ").  or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — »•  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmto  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  l«  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  11  est  filmi  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supirieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  Gn  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ntcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m6thode. 


1  2  3 


1  2  3 

4  5  9 


OBSERVATIONS 


09  TRK 


'^ 


lM*OttTANCE 


0IT«| 


If   ^ 


■■■* 


« 


aiBT<&]iiirvi<G):Rj 


Aia»  rnm 


MEAS^  OF  MAKING  IT  A  BEI^EFIT  TO 
THE  WORLD. 


BY  BICff  Attt^  PRICE,  D.  D.  L.  L.  D. 

4ini  F*U9¥f  •/  i*«  iUjfttl  S09kty  of  Lwam,  and  of  the  JUuitmy  of 
lirttmiiScimeuin^ew-Engtand, 


f^^f^a 


TWITTED  it  TECE  &  WEStOir.....fcoitoif*      , 


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njb*^ 


\  5) 


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A 


■  'Vt 


TO 


■».,' 


THIS  FREE  AND  VNrT£D  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 
THE  rOLLOWIKO  OBSEftVdlTIOKS   AR^B  HUMBLY   OFFERED, 


^%^ 


LAST  TESTIMONY  09* 


London,  July  6,  1784. 


THB  AVtMOU. 


i 


'•■ir'«»*»fe 


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2D, 


DR. 


i 


OBSERVATION^  S^c 

OF  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  REVOLUTION  WIIICII  HAS 
ESTABLISHED  THE  INDEPEStDENCE  OF  THE  U.  STATES. 

HAVING,  from  pure  conviction,  taken  a  warm  part  in  fa- 
vor of  the  British  colonies  (now  the  United  States  of  Araeri- 
ca)  durmgf  theTa*e  war  ;  and  been  exposed,  in  consequence 
01  this,^to  muc^i  abuse  and *om? danger;  it  must  be  supposed 
that  I  have  been  waiting  for  the  issue  with  anxiety~I  am 
thankftil  that  my  anxiety  is  removed  ;  and  that  I  hn^  been 
jparedlo  be  a  Witness  to  that  very  issue  of  the  war  whlfei  has 
been  all  alor.ij  the  object  of  my  wwbei.  With  henrt-felt  satis- 
faction, I  see  the  revolatlcm  in  favur  of  universal  liberty  which 
ftas  taken  place  m  AtaeHca  rattvalution  which  opent^w 
prospect  in  human  affaips,  and  begins  a  new  ssra  in  the  hStorv 
ofmankmd;  a  revoltitidn  by  which  BritonMhemsclves  will 
be  tlie  If reatest  gainers,  if  wise  enongh  to  improve  properly 
the  check  that  has  been  giyen  to  the  despotism  of  their  min- 
isters,  and  to  catfch  the  flame  .of  virtuons  liberty  which  has 
saved  their  American  brethren. 

The  late  war,  in  its  eommtncement  and  nroircM,  did  great 
good  by  dissemmatiag  just  sentiments  of  the  rights  of  mai^ 
kmd,  and  the  nature  of  legitimate  government ;  by  exciting 
a  spint  of  resistance  to  tyranny,  which  has  emancipated  one 
European  country,  aiul  is  likely  to  emancipate  others  ;  and 
by  occasionmg  the  establishment  in  America  oi* forms  oCgov- 
ernment  more  equitable  and  more  liberal  than  any  that  the 
world  has  yet  known.  But,  in  its  terminatidn,  the  war  has 
done  still  greater  good,  by  preserving  the  new  governments 

A^  5  «  ^^^^tructjon  in  which  they  must  have  been  involv- 
ed,  had  Britain  conquered;  by  providing,  in  a  sequestered 
contmsnt  possessed  of  many  sino^ular  a<]vantagcs,  a  place  of 
relnga  for  opprest  men  in  every  re^on  of  the  world  ;  and  by 
laymg  the  fonndation  there  of  an  empire  which  may  be  the 
seat  of  liberty,  science  and  virtue,  and  from  whence  there  is' 
reason  to  hope  these  sacred  blessings  will  spread,  till  they 
become  universal,  and  the  time  arrives  when  kinj?8  k  priests 
shall  have  no  nriore  power  to  oppress,  and  that  ignominious 

slavery 'Which  has  hjthp.rfn  dphnc^rl  th^  «r^.,ui  ;„  r„* •__. 

ed.  I,  therefore,  think  1  see  the  hand  of  Providence  in  the 
late  war  working  for  the  general  good  ;  and  can  scarcely  a^ 
void  crying  out,  It  was'tke  Lord's  doing. 

ileason  as  weti  as  tradition  and  revelation,  leads  us  to  ex- 


4 

pect  that  a  more  improved  and  happy  state  of  human  afHiirs 
will  take  place  before  the  conBummation  of  all  things.  The 
world  has  hitherto  been  orpadually  improving-.  Light  an^ 
knowledge  h!»/e  been  gaining  ground,  and  humaa  life  at  pre- 
sent, compared  with  what  it  once  was,  i»  much  the  same  that 
ayouthapproachin;  to  manhood  is  compared  with  an  infant. 

Such  are  the  natures  of  things,  that  this  progFess  must  con- 
tinue.   During  particular  intervals  it  iR^y  be  interrupted,  but 
it  canRot  be  destroyed.    Every  pratent  advanqe  prepares  the 
way  for  farther  advances ;  f^  a.  single  eiq^erimei^t  or  dii?- 
covery  may  sometimes  give  rise  to  ^o  many  nuMro  as  suddenly 
to  raise  the  species  higher,  ^  to  ?€^^|l?U  tb^  eflfects  of  opoo- 
ing  a  new  sense,  or  of  ||%e  fa^l  af  %  ^afk  <)»  %  tf ain^h^t  apringft 
amine.  Fop  fchia  reason,  aviakin^  maj  a»|  \afft  a^rif  e  at  degrees 
w  "ofiBiproTemei^  rrimh  we  «^mo|  ii^9V  •««»  tofpec^  ta  be  p<«- 
siblr*  ^darlf  age  mq^y  ^|1««p  M«i»l«lit9AetQgoi  bu^iothis 
case,  the  ligbt^  lifter  being  smatheve^  for  a  U»e»  wiH  break 
out  agaia  with  ^  brigbte?  \mif^.    TM  ^esent  age  of  increas- 
ed light,  coBsideped  as  s^eceedfeg  the  ?|ges  of  Greece  k  Rome 
and  an  intermediate  p©ri(?d«f  tfe^k  darlutess,  fn^whtA  a  proof 
Tjf  the  truth  of  this  <»|^nratiQa.    There  tiy«  Qertoia  kinds  of 
itt^)^ovement  which,  when  onge  made,  eamiot  be  er^tirely  lott. 
X^oring  the  dark  age»,  the  improve^aien^  made  ia  the  ages 
that  preceded  them  remaiacd  so  for  as  ia  be  Fecovered  im- 
mediately  at  the  resurrection  of  lettera,  and  to  produce  after- 
wards that  more  rapid  progress  m.  improveof^nt  wtu<b  baa 
distinguished  modern  times. 

There  caa  $cajrcety  be  a  move  pleasing  and  encQiiiraging 
object  of  reflection  thaa  this.  A^  acgideiiital  observation  of 
the  e0t?Gt8  of  gravity  m  a  garden  has  been  the  ii^aos  of  dis- 
covering the  Ittwa  that  govern  the  sola? system,*  ansde^eiub* 
bHng  us  to  look  down  with  pity  on  the  ignoKwce  ef  the  most 
enHghteaed  timses  among  the  ancients.  What  pew  dignity 
has  been  given  to  maii,  and  what  additions  have  beea  made 
to  his  powers,  by  tho  invention  of  opfjcal  glasses,^  printing, 
gun-powder,  &c.  and  by  the  hte  dlscov^iries  ia  navigatioa, 
matiiematics,  natural  philosophy,  &o.  ? 

But  among  the  evenjts  in  modern  times  tea  ling  to  the  ele- 
vation of  majikind,^  there  are  none  probably  of  so  much  com* 
sequence  as  the  recent  one  which  occasions  these  observa- 
tions. Perhaps,  1  do  not  go  too  far  when  I  say  that,  next  to 
the  introduction  of  Christianity  among  mankind,  tlic  American  > 
le volution  may  prove  the  most  important  step  in  the  pro^ 

♦This  refers  to  an  account  given  of  Sir  Isaac  Nevrton,  in  tbo  Pw^ 
ftce  to  Pr,  Pcjubcrtoo's  View  of  h'la  PbilQfO|iUj\ 


r 


-4 
I 


m  affairs 
:s.  The 
ight  an^ 
fe  at  pre- 
ame  that 
n  infant, 
mist  con- 
ptett,  but 
tares  the 
t  or  dig- 
mdcjcnly 
ofopoQ- 
taprin^ 

)bepQs< 
it^intbis 
1^  bFeak 
increas- 
l(Rome 
SAprocrf 

ely  lo«t. 
he  ages 
red  im- 
ie  after- 
i<b  lva& 

waging 

I  of  dis- 

lie  most 
d^ity 
SQiade 

mtiog, 
igatioa, 

ihe  ©le- 
ch con*> 
bserva- 
next  to 
lericcia  > 
le  pro- 
tho  Pwf. 


r 


l^ressive  course  of  humaa  imppoveiaent.    It  is  an  ©rent  wlwch 
may  produce  a  i^eneral  diifusioa  of  the  principle*  of  humani- 
ty, and  become  the  means  of  setting  free  mankind  from  the 
shackles  of  s«pei»titioa  and  tyranny,  by  leading  them  to  see 
and  know  "  that  nothing  is  fundamcntat  hut  impartial  enquirr 
an  honest  mind.  &  Tirtiiwus  practice— that  stat?  policy  oue-ht 
not  tobe  appMta  te  the  support  of  speciilatire  opinions  and 
formularies  of  faith."    «  That  the  members  of  a  civil  com- 
munity are  confederatei,  not  mbjecis  ;  and  their  rulers,  «er- 
vanu.minuuitra.     And  that  all  legitimate  governments  con- 
sists in  the  dominion  of  e^uai  laws  made  with  common  con- 
sent; that  is,  in  the  dommioQ  of  men  over  themehes  /  and 
not  in  the  dominion  of  comnttmities  over  conratuaitie^,  or  of 
any  men  otet  other  mem." 

Ilappy  will  the  vtorM  be,  when  these  truths  shall  be  erery 
where  a.-finaw!cdge#wi^  pract^e4  upon.  Religious  birotry, 
that  cruel  demon,  will  be  then  laid  asleep.  Slavish  goVeru- 
ments  and  slavish  Hierarchies  will  then  sink;  and  the  qH 
projAccies  be  verified,  *«  that  the  last  universal  empire  upon 
earth  shall  be  the  enrmire  of  reason  and  virtue,  under  which 
the  gospel  of  peace  (better  understood)  lAo/i  have/ree  course 
end  Ugkrifi^  mani(  witt  rm  to  and  fro  and  knowtedge  be  in- 
,  oreated,  the  wolf  dwelt  with  ihe  lamb  and  the.  leopard  •with  the 
At«a,  and  nation  no  fnore  lift  vp  asrvordagainH  nation.''^ 

It  is  a  conviction  I  cannot  resist,  that  the  independence  of 
the  English  colonies  in  America  is  one  of  the  steps  ordained 
by  Providence  to  introduce  these  times ;  and  I  can  scarcely 
be  deceived  in  this  conviction,  if  the  United  States  should  es- 
cape some  dangers  which  threaten  them,anu  v  :H  take  proper 
care  to  throw  themselves  open  to  future  improvements,  and 
to  make  the  most  of  the  advantages  of  their  present  situation. 
Should  this  happen,  it  will  be  true  of  them  as  it  was  of  the 
people  of  the  Jews,  that  in  them  alt  tKe  families  of  the  earth 
shall  be  blessed.     It  is  scarcely  possible  they  shouli  think 
too  highly  of  their  own  consequence.    Perhaps,  there  never 
existed  a  people  on  whose  wisdom  and  virtue  more  depended ; 
or  to  whom  a  station  af  more  importance  in  the  plan  ofProvp- 
dence  has  been  assigned.    They  have  begun  nobly.     ThcV 
have  fought  with  success  for  themselves  and  for  the  world  ; 
and,  in  the  mid^t  of  invasion  and  carnage,  estaWiahedformaof 
gov^rnmentfavorable  in  the  l:ighest  degree  to  the  rights  of 
maskind.— But  they  isave  m^ich  more  idd#;  lovre  indeed 
than  it  is  possible  properly  to  represent.     Fn  this  address,  ray 
•design  is  oo\y  to  t.r;e  notice  of  a  few  ^eof  points  which  seem 
particularly  to  require  their  aUcntioD,  in  order  to  render  Jiiem 
A2 


6 


permanently  happy  in  themsclres  and  useful  to  mankind.  Qt\ 
thase  points,  1  shntll  deliver  my  sentiments  with  freedom,  con- 
scious I  mean  well ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  with  real  diffi- 
dence, conscious  of  my  own  liableness  to  error. 


X^ 


OF  THE  MEANS  OF  PROMOTING  IIUxMAN  IMPROVEMENT 

AND  HAPPINESS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES AND 

FIRST  OP  PUBLIC  DEBTS. 

IT  seems  evident,  that  what  first  requires  the  attention  of 
the  United  States  is  the  redemption  of  their  debts,  and  mak- 
ing compensation  to  that  al-ray  whrch  has  carried  them  thro' 
the  war.  They  have  an  infant  credit  to  cherish  and  rear, 
which,  if  this  is  not  done,  muSt  perish,  and  with  it  their  char- 
acter and  honout  forever.  Nor  is  it  conceivable  they  should 
meet  with  any  great  difficulties  in  doing  this.  They  have  a 
v;pt  resource  peculiar  to  themselves,  in  a  continent  of  unlo- 
cated  lands  possessing  every  advantage  of^  soil  and  climate. 
The  settlement  of  these  lands  will  be  rapid,  the  consequence 
of  which  must  be  a  rapid  increase  of  thei;*  value.  By  dispos* 
ing  of  them  to  the  army  and  to  emigrants,  the  greatest  part 
of  the  debts  of  the  United  States  may  probably  be  sunk  im- 
mediately. But  had  tbey  no  such  resource,  they  are  very  ca- 
pable of  bearing  taxes  sufficient  for  the  purpose  of  a  gradu- 
al redemption.  Supposing  their  debts  to  amount  to  nine  miV- 
lions  sterling,  carrying  interest  at  b^  per  cent,  taxes  produ- 
cing a  revenue  of  a  million  per  ann.  would  pay  the  interest,& 
at  the  same  time  leave  a  surplus  of  half  a  million  per  ann.  for 
a  sinking  fundy  which  would  discharge  the  principal  in  thir- 
teen years.  A  surplus  of  a  quarter  of  a  million  would  do  the' 
same  in  20|  year».  After  discharging  the  principal,  the  ap- 
propriated revenue  being  no  longer  wanted,  might  be  abolish- 
ed, and  the  States  eased  of  the  burden  of  it.  But  it  would  be 
imprudent  to  abolish  it  entirely.  1 00,000?.  per  ann.  reserved,, 
and  faithfully  laid  out  in  clearing  unlocated  lands  and  other 
.  improvements,  would  in  a  short  time  increase  to  a  treasure 
(or  continewtal  patrimony)  which  would  defray  the  whole  ex- y 
ponditure  of  the  union,  and  keep  the  State  free  froni  de^*^'^ 
and  taxes^  evcr,"^  Such  a  reserve  would  (supposing  it  im- 

*  The  ten«>,  fferest*,  imposts,  kc.  &c.  which  once  fornipcl  the  pa- 
UiitMij  ofihe  crown  of  England,. bore  moetof  the  expenses  of  gov- 
efMsijC;?,;.  itiswe]j  for  this  kingdom  that  the  extravagance  of  the 
crown  has  \teex\  t^e  means  of  aJienatinc:  this  patrimony,  for  the  con- 
sequence h%8  b*ea  making  the  crown  dependenjt^n  the  peojile.  Bat 
in  America' such  a  patrimony  would  be  continental  property,  capable 
»f  bcmg  ?ipplieA  only  to  public  pitpposes,  in  the  way  which  the  publw 
for  its  d€ltigates)  sIk^uI'J  approve. 


H 


yy 


1\ 


proved  so  as  to  protloce  a  profit  of  5  ipsr  ewi/.)  increase  to  a 
capital  of  three  millions  in  19  years,  30  millions  in  57  years, 
100  millions  in  81  years,  and  261  millions  in  100  years!  But 
supposing  it  capable  of  being  improved  so  as  to  produce  a 
profit  cf  10  per  tmt.  it  would  increase  to  live  millions  in  19 
years,  100  millions  in  49  years,  &  10,000  millions  in  97  years. 
It  is  wonderful  that  no  state  has  yet  tboMyht  of  takinj^  this 
method  to  make  itself  great  and  rich.  The  smallest  appro- 
priation in  a  sinking  fund,  ntvtr  diverteify  operates  in  cancel- 
ling debts,just  as  money  increases  at  compound  interest ;  and 
is,  therefore,  oiitnipotcnt*  But  if  diverted^  it  loses  all  its 
power.  Britain  affords  a  striking  proof  of  this.  Its  sinking 
fund  (once  the  hope  of  th£  kingdom)  has,  by  the  practi.^e  of 
alienating  it,  been  rendered  impotent  and  useless.  Und  it 
been  inviolably  applied  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  intend- 
ed, there  would  in  the  year  1776,  have  been  a  surplus  in  the 
revenue  of  more  than  five  millions  per  ann.  But  instead  of 
this,  we  were  then  encumbered^with  a  debt  of  137  millionB, 
carrying  an  interest  of  near  4|  millions,  and  leaving  no  sur- 
plus of  any  consequence.  This  debt  has  been  since  increased 
tQ  280  miUions,  carrying  an  interest  (including  expenses  of 
management)  of  nine  millions  end  a  half.  A  monstrous  bub- 
ble ;  and  as  no  efPjctual  measures  are  likely  to  be  taken  (or 
perhaps  can  n(m  be;  taken)  for  reducing  it  within  the  limits  of 
safety,  it  must,  some  time  or  other,  produce  a  dreadful  con- 
vulsion. Let  the  United  States  take  warning ;  their  debts  at 
present  are  moderate.  A  sinking  fund,  guarded!  against  mis- 
application, may  soon  extinguish  them,  and  prove  a  resource 
in  all  events  of  the  greatest  importance.  Let  such  a  fund  be 
established.  Could  a  sacredness  be  given  it,  like  that  of  the 
ark  of  God  amor  ;  the  Jews,  it  would  do  the  same  service. 
~  1  miist  not,  he  iv ever,  forget  that  there  is  one  of  their  debfa 
on  which  no  sinking  fund  can  have  any  effect ;  and  which  it 
is  impossible  for  them  to  discharge :— A  debt,  greater  perhaps, 
than  has  been  ever  due  from  any  country ;  and  which  will  be 
deeply  felt  by  their  latest  posterity.     But  it  is  a  debt  ofgrat- 

•  One  penny  put  out  at  our  Saviour's  bipih  to  5  per  cent,  com- 
pound interest,  would  before  this  time,  have  increased  to  a  greater 
sum,  than  would  be  contained  in  two  hundred  millions  of  earths  all 
solid  grtld.  But,  if  put  out  to  simple  interest,  it  would  haVe  amoun- 
ted to  no  more  than  seven  shilHnors  and  sex-cence.  All  irhyf^itR^rnt"- 
which  alienate  funds  destined  for  reimbursements,  choos*e  to  improve 
money  in  the  I^t  lather  than  the  first  ef  these  wa; s.  V 

■(;  When  not  thus  guarded,  public  funds  became  the  worst  evils, 
by  giving  lo  the  nders  of  states  a  command  oJ  ravenue  for  the  pur- 
poses of  corruption. 


y 


f'ftifj  onljr,  of^-ru/uuf^c  tn  thnt  Generjjj,  wlio  Itas  ])cen  raised 
\q>  by  IH'o-vitkiice  io  mftke  them  free  and  independent,  and 
whoHe  nnnift  muet  sbine  among  tke  first  in  the  future  annals 
<of  tlie  benefactors  of  mankind 

The  meofiure  no\fr  propoAad  raay  preserve  America  for  ever 
from  too  !f  real  an  accumubtioa  of  debts,  and  consequently  of 
taxes  ;  an  evil  which  is  likely  to  be  tl»e  ruin  not  only  of  Bri- 
tttin,  but  of  other  European  St.it€8.  But  there  are  meas'— e« 
of  yet  greater  consequence,  which  I  wish  ardentlj'  to  recom- 
mend and  inculcate. 

For  the  sake  of  mankind,  I  wish  to  sec  every  mca»tire 
adopted,  that  can  have  a  tendency  to  preserve  j^encc  in  Ame- 
rica, and  to  make  it  an  open  and  fair  stage  for  di^cussicn,  and 
the  seat  o£perf4ci  liberitf. 

OF  PEACE,  AND  THE  MEANS  OF  PERPETUATING  IT. 
Civil  g:overnment  is  an  expedient  fur  collectings  the  wis- 
dom and  the  force  of  a  conununity  or  confederacy,  to  presarre 
its  peac*;  and  liberty  j^ainst  every  hostile  invasion^ whetlier 
from  vfiifun  or  from  vaithauU  In  the  latter  of  these  respects, 
the  Unitfid  States  are  happily  secured:  but  they  are  far  from 
beinar  equally  happy  ia  the /ormcr  respect  Haviii|^aow,  ia 
consequence  of  their  successful  resistance  of  the  invasioa  of 
Britain,  united  to  their  remoteness  from  Europe,  no  external 
enemy  tofear^.  they  are  in  danger  of  fighting  with  one  an- 
other. This  is  their  ^rcaffi*t  danger  ;  and  providing  securi- 
ties against  it  is  their  lutrdest  work.  Should  they  fail  in  this, 
America  may  some  lime  or  other  be  turned  inta  a  scene  of 
blood  ;  and  instead  of  being  the  hope  and  refuse  of  th.e  world 
may  become  a  terror  to  it.  ' 

When  a  dispute  arises  among  indimdvaU  in  a  state,  an  ap- 
peal is  made  to  a  cojtri  of  law  ;  that  is^  to  the  wisdom  and  jus- 
tice of  the  state  The  court  decitles.  The  losing  party  ac- 
quiesces ;  or,  if  he  does  not^  the  power  of  tUe  state /orc«»  him 
to  sabmissiim ;  and  thus  the  effects  of  contention  are  supprest^ 
and  peace  ia  maintained.  In  a  way  similar  to  this,  peace  may 
be  maintained  between  any  number  of  confederated  states  ; 
audi  can  aUnoat  iiiiagine,that  ii  is  uoi  impossible  bat  that  by 
some  such  m^amimiversal  peace  mray  some  time  or  other  be 
produced,  and  all  war  excluded  from  the  world.  Why  may 
we  not  hope  to  see  this  begun  in  America  ?  The  articles  of 
coafederation  make  cousiderable  advances  towards  it.  When 
a  dispute  arises  between  any  of  the  States,  they  order  an  ap- 
peal to  Congress — an  enquiry  by  Congress — a  hearing — and 
a  decision. — Bat  here  they  stop.    Whjt  is  most  of  all  necea- 


'V 


•s» 


9 

saiT  is  omittei).  No  provision  ii  maele  for  enforciug  the  d<>- 
cisiona  of  Congress  ;  and  this  renders  them  »n«f  ««o\  »^/ 
futile.  I  am  by  no  means  qualified  to  point  out  the  best  me- 
thod  of  removing  this  defect.  Much  must  be  pven  up  ior 
this  purpose,  nor  is  it  easy  to  give  up  too  much.  VVitboui 
all  doubt  the  powers  of  Congress  must  be  enlarged.  In  parti- 
cular,a  power  must  be  given  it  lo  collect,  on  certaiiyemergen- 
cies,  the  force  of  the  confederacy,  and  to  employ  it  i»«a"y- 
ing  its  decisions  into  execution.  A  State  agam4  wWch^a  de- 
cision it  made,  wiU  yield  of  course  when  it  knows  that  such 
a  force  exists^and  that  it  allows  no  hope  fiom  resistance. 

Brthii  force  I  do  not  mean  a  wabdwo  ahmy.  God  lorbid, 
that  standing  amw*  rftould  ew  Ud  an  ••J^^^"*^"^/;,^ 
merica.  They  are  eiery  wliere  the  grand  supporU  of  arbi- 
trary  power,  and  the  chief  cauiw  o^  the  deprestton  of  mo^ 

kini*No wise  people  wiU  ^^^ ^i^^^'^^^X^^.fJtZ 
own  hands,  or  conaent  to  hold  Ihcajr  nghtt  at  the  merey  «f 
armed  slavn.  Free  Stete.  ought  to  be  bodfes  o^ »rm«d  attr«us 
well  regulated,  and  well  discipUned,  and  a^^?? ""^  ^il  n^In 
out.  when  properlv  called  upon  to  execute  the  faw8»  to  queH 
r'etV  and  tSke^  the  peacer  Such,  iH  am  * ighUy  «|^ome^ 
arel^he  citizewi  of  Aiietica.  Why  then  way^t^-^^ 
be  furnished  wUhapower  of  calling  out  irom  the  confeder^" 
ed  States  quotas  of  fJ5»<u»  sufficient  to  force  at  ©a?®  ^f  ^^f ' 
pliance  of  any  State  which  maj  shew  an  mchnationtobrfiait 
the  union  by  resisting  its  decisions  * 

I  am  very  aensible  that  it  wiU  be  diffic^t  to  SfWd  *»^a 
powor  againat  abus«  5  and,  pevhapi,betti5mean«  of  anawemg 
fciaendarodiscov^able.  ^^.^^^"^  ^^^'::>^Z^^^^^ 
choice  g«ne?aUy  offered  u»  ia  "oftoo  eink  to  take  ^^J^^^' 
WechietheTMr^tofeivil  f^^^^^J^^^^'^^l^Z 
evil  th^n  anarchy  j  and,  »i>  like  manner,  «*.^.^«^^_^. 

atance,  the  daiiger  of  the  abuse  of  ^^.^'^'^^J^jf^^^^^^ 
ployodsometimes  to inforcc  wroiig  de(a«ons,mu^ he  autou^ 

icd  to,  because  a  loss  evil  than  the  mieety  of  int^»*  ^ 
Much,  however,  mav  he  done  to  lessenr  thi» danger.    »^v. ^ 

tion  will,  iq  a  great  measure,  P'"!^'^,'''?'!  »»t?i  Jtfll  »iS^^ 
slons.  T?ho  r^tatioa  established  by  the  fif*  "^-cle  wUl  pr^ 
vent  that  corruption  of  character  «hich  scWom  fo.U  to  h«  pr»- 
auied  bv  the  Icms  possession  of  power ;  and  the  tight  reserv- 
"".,_,?_-"'..?  Jrrl.,„Hi„„  itroofesetes  when  dBsatiShed 

with  t!'.;ra,wiu'k;ep  ihem  constantly  "»P°'^*t?'fj'*^"^ 

The  obkrvatio^  now  made  must  bo  extended  to  i»i»»ej- 

tra»*>clions.     Congress  mastl>e  »™^tcd  w.tha  power  of  pro- 

c«W  supplies  for  defraying  the  e:^.cnscs  of  the  confcdera- 


'C, 


10 

their  respe'c.aT,Vnesf  abr' acf  Fi^^^^TT^  '""-  «'^«"?th. 
tl>e>r  existence  dcpenfon  f he  nr^.i  ".'^  "'  5°""''  ""''  «°  en 

life,  their  condition,  occSnVnrin'f '''.''' "r"^ ''»S«  »'' 
such  surreys,  in  coDJanetiSn  wUhfr?S^'  *^' ''  ^^"'"'''  >«" 
marriages  and  deaths  at  all  nTo.    ff""?'*  repeten  of  births, 
"truction  byshewing  whaT  a|,'^o~™i'""=''  '-"P"''""'  '"' 
Jbnt  situations,  employment  iS,™,'''''".''*™'''''*!"?,  '"I'l 
ftvorabiA  to  th^  health'^nd  ha^t^'^'  ',"'"">«?'">  "«  most 
tiey  not  keep  constantly  in  vUw  «,Tn  "'^  "*"*'"''  '   ^^^tW 
wthe  states,  and  the  incrlJ^Trl    t^""^',^^"^  population 
But  more  especially!  ire  thi'  nltf^^'"'f^''''"  "-^'oTces? 
«ig  the  neca^ary  infomation  Z!)!^    only  means  of  procur- 
"qmtably  the  proporS  If  ml     /™""'"»  »<='="™tely  and 
fbj  each  state  i&rWp'o°a^"^»<' "'"'fy  to !»«  '='»"ri''«t. 
federation?  "    ""^^  *""  ""nstbening  the  con- 

The  npvf  ,.^  *  f        ^^  LIBERTr. 

j-pS  i^rLTr,iSt°orr"'^>'='^ 

I'l^rty,  religion  as  i4n  aSi°  ?'  •  '^"''"  "fpWt 
It  a  country  flrhere  t™ih  .If  ' '"  •*■"«"<:»,  as  shall  render 
the  hunt8np™eM/Wfi."''  "■*"?''  '"">"  have  fair  plav  .hi 
for  «he.in/C  for°they  crfa^T  r^""?  '"em'srftaM 

The  faculties  of  man  have  hi^S,''T'''',.™P™''*»en  • 
more  *  less  cramped  by  thsi'tf ''''""" ''•'"'"'"«>  heen 
"•  matters  6f  spec„l,«on  bv M  '      •''Tf^  '"^<^'''"  ""thorify 
and  9cb:5m,  and  by  slavkh'hi-I  '^"'"■■"=^1 '«»''  agninst  here=i 

ments.    It  is  abovra^'aLt'SaLt  ?W ''"=''''"'  '^''^^ 
reason  foouJdbe  admitted  (4,4  '*"  """"^h  fetters  on 

expressible  satisfactToa    th"    .l"""""^"'     '  «i'^">'^  with  in? 
ence  there.     1„  ,hi.,  rt'peefL^' '""'='="*  """y  h=.ve  no  exi  "- 
States  are   liberal  to  a  d^e.  ee  ,lf7i"""'"''  "^  ">«  ^"''^^ 
have  the  distinguished  hon"or  J'^l^l";:'?'';'"''"'^-''-     They 
"=-tvcn  m  which  forms  of  .^n„„"'    "'"^°, '""  '"'■''  "tates  under 

favorable  to  uni.ersTvSy     ^'''''  ^^•"'^'="  e'tabli,^ed 
ffuishcd  in  fhpir  ,■„/•"'      ^"S:     They  have  been  )h„.  ,!,•,.:_ 


ntj 


m  their  infancy.     \\' 


='^'^i^-     What  then  will  they  be' 


en  thu3  disiin- 
in  a.  more 


I 


Jlscliarg'- 
g"  defeai- 

itrenflfth, 
md  even- 
political 
out  sfiv- 
o{  that 

«  of  the 
3tag:e  of 
uld  not 
r  births, 
aat  in- 
ty,  md 
•e  most 
Would 
alation 
arces  ? 
Tocur- 
ly  and 
tribut- 
e  con- 


remfg 
?rfect 
;nder 
,  and 
8,and 
It. 

been 

oritjr 

resy 

iish- 

s  on 

1  in- 

cist- 

ited 

[lev 

dep 

led 

iin^ 

)re 


■vi 


ri 

'     ■  _       ■  \ 

ridvaaced  state  ;  when  time  and  experience  and  the  concur* 
ring  assistance  of  the  wise  and  virtiious,in  every  part  of  the 
earth,  shall  have  introduced  intb  the  new  governments,  cor-  - 
rections  ftnd  amendments  which  will  render  them  still  more 
iViendly  to  liberty,  and  more  the  means  of  promoting  human 
happiness  and  dignity  ?  May  we  not  see  there  the  dawning  . 
of  brighter  days  on  earth,  and  a  new  creation  rising?  But  I 
must  check  myself,  I  am  in  danger  of  being  carried  too  far  by 
the  ardor  of  my  hopes. 

The  liberty  I  mean  includes  mii  liberty  of  conduct  in  aH 
civil  matters — liberty  of  discussion  in  all  tpecvlative  matters--- 
and  liberty  of  conscience  in  all  religious  matters.  And  it  is 
then  p^rfeci,  when  under  no  restraintyi  except  when  used  to 
injure  aHy  one  in  his  person,  property,  or  good  name  ;  that 
is,  except  when  used  to  destroy  itself.  '         " 

In.lil3rty  of  discussion,  1  include  the  liberty  of  examining 
all  public  measu  res,  an*-^  *he  conduct  of  all  pub)ic  men ;  and  of 
writing  and  publishing  va  all  speculath^e  aud  doctrinal  points. 

jpF  LIBERTY  OF  DISCUSSIOTN. 
It  is  a  common  opinion,  that  there  are  some  doctrines  so 
sacred,  and  others  of  so  bad^a  tendency,  that  no  public  discus- 
sion of  them  ought  to  be  allowed.  Were  this  a  right  opinion, 
all  the  persecution  that  has  been  ever  practised  would  be  jus^ 
tified.  For  if  it  is  a  part  of  the  duty  of  civil  magistrates  to 
prevent  the  discussion  of  such  doctrines^^  they  must,  in  doing 
this,  act  on  their  own  judgments  of  the  nature  and  tendency 
of  doctrines  ;  and,consequently,they  must  have  aright  to  pre- 
vent the  discussion  of  all  doctrines  which  they  think  to  be  too 
sacred  for  discussion  or  too  dangerous  in  their  tendency  ;  & 
this  right  they  must  exercise  in  the  only  way  in  which  civil 
power  is  capable  of  exercising  it,  "  by  inflicting  penalties  on 
all  who  oppose  sacred  doctrines,  or  who  maintain  pernicious 
opinion."  In  JlfaAoiMc<a»  countries,  therefore,  civil  magis- 
trates have  a  righi  to  silence  and  punish  all  who  oppose  the, 
divine  mission  of  Mahomet,  a  doctrine  there  reckoned  of  the 
most  sacred  nature.  The  like  is  true  of  the  doctrines  of  tran-  • 
substantiation,  worship  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  4'C.  in  Popish 
countries ;  and  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Trinity,  satisfaction,  &c. 
in  Protestant  countries.  In  Er gland  itself,  this  principle  has 
been  acted  upon,  and  produced  the  laws  which  subject  to  se- 
vere penalties  all  who  write  or  speak  against  the  supreme  Di- 
vinity of  Christ,  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer^  and  the  Church 
Articles  of  Faith.  All  such  laws  aire  right,  if  the  opinion  I 
have  mentioned  is  right.    But  in  reality,  civil  power  has  no- 


12 

upoa  them  the  c^  ofK  orX."^  '  ""^'T"  "'^J'  '^« 
points.     TWarrno^^^!i'»^<-.^,!^'"'^°'''"y  doctrinul 

^t»nai^2Tcy^cl^*^t^*^'>^"^it  power  to 
^ope«»titI,  S;*^^r^y  ^»t  W  »w»    It  ie,  indeed, 

sacred  truth,  a,»d  opposLrtt.^™  er^ ''^K"""^ 
therefore, it» Berfect%^.,t-.rrT     .     •''*"^'    Wnnrid  not. 

Would  not  theStt^?i^fi!^  ^  "*  «'«"**«  '"^"i-e  ?- 

«d.hey  consider  r™;,:'^^^„\««P'18r»'«  !>««=«;  «r 
the/«<„rebutthepr««„tTBt^Tt„T^  take  care,  not  of 
and  their/oi/,,  but  rfSeir  „T         T" '  "*'  «'  «'^'»'  '""l* 

of  doctrines,  must  be  ihakwift  k-  J^    ^^'"''^  """^  tendency 

death  ef&K;^^/Xtt^I^'f?!^^r^"'«''t'>«'e 

^f^'o".  Prevented  c;,S  ^«^^Sf  t '°'*t'- 
whole  life  time,  bi»disco«rer» /rf tKT^  PW>lishiBgr,  during  his 

i .  And  so  lately  a«  a«  v^  m^K  ^  •*""*  ^««<«' 
the  firs,  p,ed«tL  of  WL^  ?^  (^^rp""'"'?^.'^ 
was  not  «Bowe4  to  b«  printed  «  R^i^  ""  '  Prmetfia) 
this  .locwne  ;  .ndthe  Cned^,^-/  .^*"*  "  '"'■^^ 
pi-efi«  to  their  work  aS^^TSl  ^^^  '**'<?«*  «" 
submitweo  thede^i^SsoI.^  «*»  point  ««y 
been,  aaid  s^eii-  f ♦fKU*  «•«  ^1*^-    '^  f?^^/***^™'  S^*^*^  *«^e 

corporeal  powers.    Tfteifl^t^J^i^'^?^ 

*  w  w«y  ,B  wttick  it  €aft  be.»t  promote  theiwerest 


13 


ernors  go 
they  take 
doctrinal 
reten4  to 
he  coun- 
>ower  to 
S  iiKJeed, 
f  a*  pres- 
pportingf 
tdd  not, 
jsing? — 
e  all  the 
Eice ;  OP 
I  not  of 
'IT  souls 
tofaay 

quence 
ndency 
rress  of 

r. 

t^ach- 
of cor- 
[  to  the 
yfper- 
ag  his  ' 
world, 
ion  of 
Jerted 
17  on 

erted 
ed  to 
Ihefy 
kttoe 


fkitb 

nest 


and  dij^nitv  of  mankind,  (as  far  as  they  can  be  promoted  by 
I  the  disro      y  of  truth)  is  by  encouraging  them  to  search  for 
truth  Wit     iver  they  can  find  it ;  and  by  ptotecting  them,  in 
doing  thts.  against  the  attacks  of  malevolence  and  bigotry. 
Should  any  attempt  be  made  by  contending  sects  to  injure  one 
another,its  power  will  come  in  properly  to  crush  the  attempt 
and  to  maintain  for  all  sects  equal  liberty ^by  punishing  every 
encroachment  upon  it.     The  conduct  of  a  civil  magistrate,on 
such  an  occasion,  should  be  that  of  Gallio,  the  wise  Roman 
procon8ul,who,on  receiving  an  accusation  of  the  apostle  Paul, 
would  not  listen  to  it,  but  drove  from  his  presence  the  accu- 
sers who  had  laid  violent  hands  upon  him,  after  giving  tlifem 
the  following  admonition  ; — If  it  were  a  matter  of  wrong  or 
wicked  lewdness,  reason  would  require  that  I  should  hear  with 
you.     But  if  it  he  a  question  of  words  and  names,  and  the  law, 
lo(^  you  to  it.  For  I  will  be  no  judge  of  such  matters.    Acts  xviii. 
1 2,  &c.     How  mach  happier  would  the  world  have  been,  had 
all  magistrates  acted  in  this  manner  ?  Let  America  learn  this 
important  lesson,  and  protit  by  the  experience  of  past  times. 
A  dissent  from  established  opinions  and  doctrines  has  indeed 
often  miserably  disturbed  society,  and  produced  mischief  and 
bloodshed.     But  it  should  be  remembered,  that  this  has  been 
owing  to  the  establishment  of  the  points  dissented  Irom,  and 
the  use  of  civil  power  to  enforce  the  reception  of  them.  Had 
Civil  government  done  its  duly,  left  all  free,  and  employed  it- 
self in  procuring  instead  of  restraining  fair  discussion,  all  mis- 
chief would  have  been  avoided,  &  mankind  would  have  bfeen 
raised  higher  than  they  are  in  knowledge  and  improvement. 
When  Christianity,  that  first  and  best  of  all  the  means  of  hu- 
man improvement,  was  first  preached,  it  was  charged  with 
turning  the  world  upside  down.     The  leaders  of  Jewish  and 
Pagan  establishments  were  alarmed,and  by  opposing  the  pro- 
pagation of  ity€;onverted  a  religion  of  peace  and  love  into  an 
occasion  of  violence  and  slaughter ;   and  thus  verified  our 
Lord's  prophecy,that  he  was  come  not  to  send peaee,but  a  sword 
on  earth.     All  this  was  the  effect  of  the  misapplication  of  the 
powers  of  government.  Instead  of  creating-,  they  should  have 
been  employed  in  jprewen^'n^  such  mischief,  and  been  active 
only  in  causing  the  Christian  cause  to  receive  a  fair  hearing 
and  guarding  the  propagators  of  it  against  insult.    The  like 

_ — ,,.,.  „„,^    ,_„^  iiidUT;  ^.wixuciiiiug  iiic  nioi  reiormers. 

What  we  all  see  would  have  been  right  in  Pagan  and  Popish 
governments  with  respect  to  Christianity  &  the  reformation  -^ 
would  it  not  be  nmi)  right  in  christian  or  Protestant  govern^ 
monts,  were  any  Attempts  made  to  propagate  a  new  religion, 

B 


14 

«oo„  come  tonothir     i  '  ''*''"'"  ""''  «"'<'«''«'  "-""M 

truth  .i,I  Lrta?„^"be  'erJed  bVtt  "'m^^\''"  "=»"'«  <"" 
have  sunk  as  soon  ^  it  rr  «  hart  1  ^.k  •*'"^»"'"«'"«»  would 
evidence  been  emDlov»r,t„        ^ ''.*'■  '""=«  """•  ">»»  of 

"blereco»nrerdS'<rA  XSthiitriiS' t'"^'^^ 
't  became  the  religion  nf  tk.        l?  •       ' "  ■"»''«'•»  way  till 

..cnedperiods%y?v!itnce„„ir!^.'"""!°^"^"«''t«°''«ht- 
exertions  of  iivil  powc-     Thl'™  "PP"'"'"" »»  ">«  strongest 

proof,  that  nothtol  but  ?airJk.^^f.—"°'  **"  ■»»«««£„» 
«rror  and  to  f  rSe  tru^^^^^^^         »peces«,ry  to  suppre^ 
ever  I  Had  any  cEill^k      •    ^^S^eved,  indeed,  when- 
aid  of  civil  pZer  "fdefend'!"'^  "  ?"?"''"<"■  *»  •=»"  »  tie 
more  disgraceful  to  it      I?-,      "/*''»'""•    ^^'hing  can  be 
Cod.   Its  corrup  ion  ,„a  !fj    "*""  '"'=''  "'<''  "  <='"not  be  of 
ment  that  civTpo^er  toof  r""/"' '""''  P''"^*'  ^">"'  'he  mo 
corruption  and  drbZmlf  ncreated    tSr'*i*'?T '  '"''  '"- 
verted  into  a  system  of  air<i.J^w,'    "'*  '»stitwas  con- 
«nd  more  barbaro^  "'^'""'■''"y.and  superstition  more  gross 

Christ  disclaimraTclSre Jon^rtrthi?''.   '^^^."^ 

the  world.     It  has  suffertdInZ  „.    k  '''"'.*»«a'''«l'ment8  of 

«teadof  sile«ei„g  .^opponent  f^^  '"" 

produce  their  strongest  Sm.^'fi     ^*'!?."'*  ^I'ouraged  to 

of  £nta.„  has  latel/shew,f  h^l^riTn"  'V  ^he experience 

iwosrd^rt:::^^"""^^^^^^^^^^      "'^^" "  ""^ 

howersrdlh^;::^:-;^^^^  '"fr"''  <"  <•-"'. 

can  suffer  by  discussion      Alldn^t?  Nothmg  reasonable 

olear  and  incapable  Tbeir ^  oto^eTtvhh"*  ''"'"'  ""'*' '"' 
aulhority  interposes,  it  willbe  to  J.v  „  ""="''      "^  <=ivii 

or  abuse  of  them.  "PP"""'  '<"»«  misconception 

That  lOTmoroYtenrfCTcj.  of  doctrine.!  whJ^Kk      > 
asareasonagainstallovv.WthemST        *""  ''*«"  «'?<"' 
fee  either  ^Jaed  and  diZI  or  £V       discussion  of  them,may 

they  are  charged.  If  iu/'„lr  J  "  T/"''"""  ""h  «^ich 
certainly  wiu'i.ot  sp  ead  The  fri"„"  l""'"'  ™^''  '>°«'"''«» 
nature  «ili  resist  them  and  tLfo?'^'?  """^"^  '«  ""-man 
soon  disgraced.     If,  on  Ihe  co,  I  "      ".""*'  '"^"'*"'  '""  be 

-ijl.  which  a  doclriiie  ischarg  tlho'ildh"'^  "  '»"«'"«- 
apt  all  parties  „pe  to  rb.-I  f,!.''';.":""''' ''«  considered  ho.v 

ha<  tendencies.  It  is  «^irir„ow.r  t"hatSf  "-'^  ."'PP"'«  ""I' 


tmaally  exclaiming  against  one  another' 


Ifnists^Jlrmir, 
r  rec-wille 


rs,  are  con- 
'  opinions  as  auni;^er. 


ild  sacred ! 
tice,  woulfl 
he  test  of 
e  cause  of 
ism  would 
an  that  of 
I  unspeak- 
9  way  till 
St  enlight- 
strongest 
e  striking 
'  suppress 
id,  when- 
all  in  the 
»g  can  be 
wt  be  of 
r»  the  mo- 
and  this 
ivas  con- 
re  gross 
ligion  of 
ments  of 
hip.    In- 
•aged  to 
>erience 
it  to  be 

)f  faith, 
sonable 
must  be 
If  civil 
ception 

urged 
!m,may 

which 
ctrines 
human 
ivill  be 
^qnencf. 
id  how 
e  with 
iniavs^ 
'e  con- 


15 

ous  and  licentious.     Even  Christianity  itself  could  not,  at  its 
hrst  introduction,  escape  this  accusation.     The  professors  of 
It  were  considered  as  .McM^*,  because  they  opposed  Paffan 
Idolatry  ;    and  their  religion  was  on  this  account  reckoned  a 
destructive  and  pernicious  enthusiasm.     If,  therefore,the  ru- 
r'u   l'^^*^  '^^^  to  prohibit  the  propagation  of  all  doctrines 
n  which  they  apprehend  immoral  tendencies,  an  openinir  will 
be  made,  as  I  hnve  before  observed,  for  every  species  of  per- 
secution.  There  will  be  no  doctrine,  however  true  or  impor- 
tant,  he  avowal  of  which  will  not  in  some  country  or  other 
be  subjected  to  civil  penalties.     Undoubtedly,  there  are  doc 
trmes  which  have  such  tendencies.     But  the  tendencies  of 
speculative  opmions  have  often  very  little  effect  6n  practice. 
1  he  Author  ot  nature  has  planted  in  the  human  mind  princi- 
ples and  feelmgs  which  will  operate  in  opposition  to  any  theo> 
ries  that  may  seem  to  contradict  them.  Every  sect,  whatever 
may  be  its  tenets,  has  some  salvo  for  the  necessity  of  virtue. 
1  he  philosophers  who  hold  that  matter  and  motion  have  no 
existence  except  in  our  own  ideas,  are  capable  of  believin*' 
this  only  m  their  closets.     The  same  is  true  in  the  philoso'l 
phers  who  hold  that  nothing  exists  but  matter  and  motion; 
and  at -the  same  time  teach,  that  man  has  no  self  determinino- 
power ;  that  an  unalterable  fate  governs  all  things  :  and  thai 
no  one  is  any  thing  that  he  can  avoid  being,  or  does  any  tiling 
that  he  can  avoid  doing.     These  philosophers  wheft  th'^v 
come  out  into  the  world  act  as  other  men  do.    Common  sense 
never  tads  to  get  the  better  of  their  theories ;  and  I  know  that 
many  of  them  are  some  of  the  best  men  in  the  world,  and  the 
warmest  friends  to  the  true  interests  of  society.  Thouo-h  their 
doctrine  may  seem  to  furnish  an  apology  for  vice,  their  prac- 
tice IS  an  exhibition  of  virtue  ;  and  a  government  which  would 
silence  them  would  greatly  injure  itself     Only  overt  acts  of 
injustice,  violence  or  defamation,  come  pronerly  under  the 
cognizance  of  civil  power.     Were  a  person  now  to  go  about 
i.ondon,  teaching  that  "  property  is  founded  in  grace,"  1 
should,  were  I.i  mngistrate,  iethjm  alone  while  he  did  ncth- 
mg  but  teach,  without  being  under  any  apprehension  than  that 
he  would  soon  find  a  lodging  in  Bedlam.     But  were  he  to  at- 
tempt  to  carry  his  doctrine  into  its  consequences  by  actually 
stealing,  under  the  pretence  of  his  right  as  a  saint  to  the  [.ro- 
l>ei -.J  oi  liis  liCignwors, !  should  think  it  my  duty  to  lay  hold 
ot  him  as  a  felon,  without  regarding  the  opinion  from  which 
he  acted. 

I  am  persuaded,  that  few  or  no  inconvenlencies  would  arise 
trom  such  a  liberty.     If  magistrates  will  do  their  duty  as 


h 


16  ' 

soon  89  violence  begins,  or  any  overt  acts  which  break  t'^e 
peace  are  committed,^  no  great  harm  will  arise  from  their 
keeping  themselves  neutral  till  then.  Let,  however,  the 
contrary  be  supposed.  Let  it  be  granted  that  civil  au- 
thority will,  in  this  case,  often  be  too  late  in  its  exertions ; 
the  just  inference  will  be,  not  that  the  liberty  I  plead  for 
ought  not  to  be  allowed  ;  but  that  there  will  be  two  evils, 
between  which  an  option  must  be  made,  and  the  least  of 
which  must  be  preferred — One  is,  the  evil  just  mentioned — 
The  other  includes  in  it  every  evil  which  oan  arise  from  mak- 
ing the  rulers  of  States  judges  of  the  tendency  of  doctrines, 
subjecting  freedom  of  enquiry  to  the  controul  of  their  ignor- 
ance, and  perpetuating  darkness,  intolerance  and  slavery.  1 
need  not  say  which  of  these  evils  is  the  least. 


OF  LIBERTY  OF   CONSCIENCE,    AND   CIVIL  ESTABLISH- 
MENTS OF  RELIGION. 

In  liberty 'of  conscience  1  indude  much  more  than  tolera- 
tion. Jesus  Christ  has  established  a  perfect  equality  among 
his  followers.  His  command  is,  that  they  shall  assume  no  ju- 
fisdiction  over  one  another,  and  acknowledg;^  no  master  be- 
sides himself  It  is,  therefore,  presumption  in  any  of  them  to 
claim  a  right  to  any  superiority  or  pre-eminence  over  their 
brethren.  Such  a  claim  is  implied,  whenever  any  of  them 
l^retend  to  tolerate  the  rest.  Not  only  all  christians,  but  all 
men  of  all  religions  ought  to  be  considered  by  a  state  as  equal- 
ly entitled  to  its  protection  as  far  as  they  demean  themselves 
honestly  and  peaceably.  Toleration  can  take  place  only 
where  there  is  a  civil  establishment  of  a  particular  mo^e  of 
religion  ;  that  is,  where  a  predominant  sect  enjoys  exclusive 
advantages,  and  makes  the  encouragement  of  its  own  moide  of 
faith  and  worship  a  part  of  the  constitution  of  the  state  ;  but 
at  the  same  time  thinks  fit  to  suffer  the  exercise  of  other  modes 
of  faith  and  worship.  Thanks  be  to  God,  the  new  American 
States  are  at  present  strangers  to  such  ^jstablishments.  In 
this  respect,as  well  as  many  others,  they  h^ve  shewn,in  fram- 
ing their  constitutions,  a  degree  cf  wisdom  and  liberality 
,  which  is  above  all^praise. 

Civil  establishments  of  formularies  of  faith  and  worship  are 
inconsistent  with  the  rights  of  private  judgment — they  ingen- 


J.1 


uer  strne-- "they  turn  religion  into  a  trHue — they  siioar  up 
error — -they  produce  hypocrisy  and  prevarication — they  lay 
an  iindue  byass  on  the  human  mind  in  its  enquiries,  and  ob- 
struct the  progress  of  truth.  Genuine  religion  is  a  concern 
that  lies  entirely  between  God  and  wr  owo  souls.     It  is  inca- 


I 


A  17 

pable  of  receiving  any  aid  from  human  laws.  It  is  contftmi- 
nated  as  soon  as  worldly  motives  and  sanctions  mix  th^ir  in- 
fluence with  it.  Statesmen^should  countenance  it  only  by  ex- 
hibiting in  their  own  example  a  conscientious  regard  to  it  in 
those  forms  which  are  most  agreeable  to  their  own  judgm<mt8, 
and  by  encouraging  their  fellow-citizens  in  doing  the  sttme. 
They  cannot  as  public  men  give  it  any  other  assistance.  AH 
besides  that  has  been  called  a  public  leading  in  religion,  has 
done  it  an  essential  injury,  and  produced  some  of  the  worst 
consequences.  '■ 

The  church  establishment  in  England  is  one  of  the  mildest 
sort.  But  even  here  what  a  snare  has  it  been  to  integrity  ? 
And  what  a  check  to  free  enquiry  ?  What  dispositions  favora- 
ble to  despotism  has  it  fostered  ?  What  a  turn  to  pride  and 
narrowness  &  domination  hpfttftflYen  the  clerical  character  ? 
What  struggles  has  it  produced  in  its  members  to  accommo- 
date their  opinions  to  the  subscriptions  and  tests  which  it  im- 
poses ?  What  a  perversion  of  learning  ha::  it  occasioned  to  de- 
fend obsolete  creeds  and  absurdities  ?  What  a  burthen  is  it  on 
the  consciences  of  some  of  its  best  clei^y,who,in  consequence 
of  being  bound  dbwn  to  a  system  they  do  not  approve,  and 
having  no  support  except  that  which  they  derive  from  con- 
forming to  it,find  themselves  under  the  hard  necessity  of  eith-^^ 
er  prevaricating  or  starving  ?  No  one  doubts  but  that  the  En- 
glish clei^y  in  general  could  With  more  truth  declare  that 
they  do  not,  than  that  they  do  give  their  unfeigned  assent  to 
all  and  every  thing  contained  in  the  thirty  nine  articles  and 
the  book  of  common  prayer ;  and  yet,  with  a  solemn  declara- 
tion to  this  purpose,  are  they  obliged  to  enter  upon  an  oiiice 
which,  above  all  offices,  requires  those  who  exercise  it  to  be 
examples  of  simplicity  and  sicerity.  Who  can  help  execrat- 
ing the  cause  ofsuch  an  evil. 

But  what  I  wish  most  to  urge  is  the  tendency  of  religious 
establishments  to  impede  the  improvement  of  the  world.  They 
are  boundaries  prescribed  by  human  folly  to  human  investiga- 
tion ;  and  inclosures  which  intercept  the  light  and  confine  the  ' 
exertions  of  reason.  Let  any  one  imagine  to  himself  what  ef- 
fects similar  establishments  would  haye  in  philosophy ,naviga- 
tion,  metaphysics,  medicine  or  mathematics.    Something  like 

viin;  u^vik  LTzu^^r;  iii  ix/gi^  aiiu  ptixtvsuixxijr   ^    rvsisic  zirc  spec  uca.t£ 

of  Aristotle  and  the  nonsense  of  the  schools  maintained  an  au- 
thority like  that  of  the  creeds  of  churchmen  :  And  the  effect 
was  a  longer  continuance  of  the  world  in  the  ignorance  and 
barbarity  of  the  dark  ages.  But  civil  establishments  of  reli" 
gion  are  more  pernicious.     So  apt  are  mankind  to  misreppe- 

B2 


u 


18 

-sent  the  character  of  the  Deity,  and  to  connect  his  favor  with 
particular  modes  of  faith,  that  it  must  be  expected,  tl\at  a  re- 
ligion so  settled  will  be  what  it  has  hitherto  been—a  gloomy 
and  cruel  auperstition  bearing  the  name  of  religion. 

It  has  been  long  a  subject  of  dispute,  which  is  worst  in  its 
effecU  on  society,  siich  a  religion  or  speculative  atheism.  For 
my  own  part,  I  could  almost  give  the  preferenc#  to  the  latter. 
Atheism  is  so  repugnant  to  every  principle  of  common  sense, 
that  It  js  not  possible  it  should  ever  gain  much  ground,  or  be- 
come very  prevalent.  On  the  contrary;  there  is  a  particular 
proneness  m  the  human  mind  to  superstition,   and  nothing  ia 
more  like  to  become  prevalent.     Atheism  leaves  us   to  the 
lull  .influence  of  most  of  our  natural  feelings  and  social  princi- 
ples ;  and  these  are  so  strong  in  their  operation,  that  in  gener- 
al they  are  a  sufficient  guard  to  the  order  of  society.     But 
superstition  counteracts  these  principle8,by  holding  forth  men 
to  one  another  as  objects  of  divine  hatred ;  and  by  putting  them 
on  harrassing,  s»:encing,rmpri8oning  and  burning  one  another 
40  order  to  do  God  service.  Atheism  is  a  sanctuary  for  vice  by 
taking  away  the  motives  to  virtue  arising  from  the  will  of 
<'0d  and  the  fear  of  a  future  judgment.     But  superstition  is 
more  a  sanctuary  for  vice,  by  teaching  men  ways  of  pleasing 
t^od  without  moral  virtue,  and  by  leading  them  even  to  com- 
l>ound  for  wickedness  by  ritual  services,  by  bodily  penances 
ar*!  mortifications,  by  adoring  shrines,  going  pilgrimages,  say- 
ing many  prayers,  receiving  absolution  from  the  priest,  ekter- 
mmating  heretics,  &c.    Atheism  destroys  the  sacredness  and 
iJUugation  of  an  oath.    But  is  there  not  also  a  religion(8o  call- 
ad)  which  does  this,  by  teaching  that  there  is  a  power  which 
can  dispense  with  the  obligation  of  oaths,  that  pious  frauds 
are  right,  and  that  faith  is  not  to  be  kept  with  heretics  ? 

Is  it  indeed  only  a  rational  and  liberal  religion  ;  a  religion 
founded  on  just  notions  of  the  Deity,  as  a  being,  who  regards 
•^qually  ever;f  sincere  worshipper,  an^  by  whom  all  are  alike 
lavored  as  far  as  they  act  up  to  the  light  they  enjoy  ;  a  reli- 
gion which  consists  in  the  imitation  of  the  moral  perfections 
t»l  an  almighty  but  benevolent  Governor  of  nature,  who  directs 
tor  the  best  all  ev^ents,  in  confidence  in  the  care  of  his  provi- 
dence, in  resignation  to  his  will  and  in  the  faithful  discharge 
ot  every  duty  of  piety  and  morality  from  a  regard  to  his  au- 
uioruy  and  the  apprehension  of  a  future  righteous  retribution. 
It  is  only  this  religion  (die  inspiring  principle  of  every  thing 
tair  and  worthy  and  joyful,  and  which  in  truth  is  nothing  but 
the  love  of  God  and  man  and  virtue  warming  the  heart  and  di- 
recting the  conduct)  It  is  only  this  kind  of  religion  that  can 


/ 


19 


Mess  the  worlil,  or  be  an  advantage  to  society.  This  it  tfie 
relij^ion  that  every  enlightened  friend  to  mankind  will  be 
zealous  to  promote,  hnl  it  Is  a  religion  that  the  powers  of 
the  world  know  little  of,  and  which  will  always  be  besi  pro- 
moted by  being  left  free  and  open. 

I  cannot  help  adding  here,  that  this  is  in  particular  theChris- 
ti^n  religion.  Chistianity  teaches  us  that  there  is  none  good 
but- one,  that  is  God ;  that  he  willeth  all  men  to  be  saved,ahd 
will  punish  nothing  but  wickedness  ;  that  he  desires  mercy 
and  not  sacrifice  (benevolence  rather  than  rituals)  ;  that  lov- 
ing him  with  all  our  hearts,  and  loving  our  neighbor  as  our- 
selves, is  the  whole  of  our  duty  ;  and  that  in  every  nation  he 
that  feareth  him  &  worketh  righteousness  is  accepted  of  him. 
!t  rests  its  authority  on  the  power  of  God,  not  of  man  ;  refers 
itself  entirely  to  the  understandings  of  men ;  makes  us  the  sub- 
jects of  a  kingdom  that  is  not  of  this  world!  and  requires  us 
to  elevate  our  minds  above  temporal  emoluments,and  to  look 
forward  to  a  state  beyond  the  grave,  where  a  government  of* 
perfect  virtue  will  be  erected  under  the  Messiah  who  has  tast- 
ed death  for  every  man.  What  have  the  powers,  of  the  world 
to  do  with  such  religion  1  It  disclaims  all  connection  with 
them  ;  it  made  its  way  at  first  in  opposition  to  them ;  and,  as 
far  as  it  is  now  upheld  by  them,  it  is  dishonored  and  vilified. 

The  injury  which  civil  establishments  do  to  Christianity  1 
may  be  learnt  from  the  following  considerations. 

First.  The  spirit  of  religious  establishments  is  opposite  to 
,  the  spirit  of  Christianity.  It  is  a  spirit  of  pride  and  tyranny  in  ^ 
opposition  to  the  christian  lowly  spirit ;  a  contracted  and  "sel- 
fish spirit,  in  opposition  to  the  christian  enlarged  and  benevo- 
lent  spirit ;  the  spirit  of  the  world  in  Opposition  to  the  chris- 
tian heavenly  spirit. 

Secondly.  Religious  establishments  are  founded  on  a  claim 
of  authority  in  the  christian  church  which  overthrowsChrist's 
authority.  He  has  in  the  scriptures  given  his  followers  a  code 
of  laws  to  which  he  requires  them  to  adhere  as  their  only 
guide.  But  the  language  of  the  framers  of  church  establish- 
.mentsis  "  we  have  authority  in  controversies  of  faith  and  pow- 
er to  decree  rites  and  ceremonies.  We  are  the  deputies  of 
Christ  upon  earth,  who  have  been  commisp'^ned  by  him  to 

fore  follow  us.  The  scriptures  are  insufficieat.  Our  interpre- 
^  t  itions  you  must  receive,  as  Christ's  laws  ;  our  creeds  as  his 
doctrine  ;  our  inventi       as  his  institi  '^ns." 

It  is  evident,  as  the  excellent  Hoadly  has  shown,  that  these 
claims  turn  Christ  out  of  the  government  of  his  own  kingdom, 


20 


i^ 


!ii 


!l! 


and  place  usurpers  on  his  throne.  They  are  therefore  de- 
rogatory to  bis  honor ;  and  a  submission  to  them  is  a  breach 
of  the  allegiance  due  to  him.  They  have  been  almost  fatal 
to  tme  Christianity ;  and  attempts  to  enforce  them  by  civil 
penalties,  have  watered  the  christian  world  with  blood  of 
saints  and  martyrs. 

Thirdly.  The  difficulty  of  introducing  alterations  into 
church  establishments  after  they  have  been  once  formed,  is 
another  objection  to  them.  Hence  it  happens,  that  they  re- 
main always  the  same  amidst  all  changes  of  public  manners 
and  opinions*  ;  and  that  a  kingdom  may  go  on  for  ages  in  idol- 
atrous worship,  after  a  general  conviction  has  taken  place, 
that  there  is  but  one  object  of  religious  worship,  namely  the 
God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jenis  Christ.  What  a  sad  scene 
of  religious  hypocrisy  must  such  a  discordance  between  pub- 
lic conviction  and  the  public  forms  produce  ?  At  this  day  in 
some  European  countries,  the  absurdity  and  slavishness  of 
their  hierarchies  are  seen  &  acknowledged ;  but  being  incor- 
porated with  the  state,it  is  scarcely  possible  to  get  rid  of  them. 

What  can  be  more  striking  than  the  state  of  England  in  this 
respect  ?  The  system  of  faith  &  worship  established  in  it  was 
formed  above  two  hundred  years  ago,  when  Europe  was  just 
emerging  from  darkness  and  barbarity.  The  traies  have  ever 
since  beert  growing  more  enlightened ;  but  without  any  effect 
on  the  establishment.  Not  a  ray  of  the  increasing  light  has 
penetrated  it.  Not  one  imperfection,  however  gross,has  been 
removed.  The  same  articles  of  faith  are  subscribed.  The 
same  ritual  of  devotion  is  practised.  There  is  reason  to  fear 
that  the  absolution  of  the  sick  which  forms  a  part  of  this  ritual, 
is  often  resorted  to  as  a  passport  to  heaven  after  a  wicked  life; 
and  yet  it  is  continued.  Perhaps  nothing  more  shocking  to 
reason  and  humanity  ever  made  a  part  of  a  religious  system 
than  the  damning  clauses  in  the  Athanasian  creed;  and  yet  the 
ligation  of  the  clergy  to  declare  assent  to  this  creed,  and. to 
read  it  as  a  part  of  the  public  devotion,  remains. 

The  necessary  consequence  of  such  a  state  of  things  is,that, 

Fourthly,  Christianity  itself  is  disgraced,and  that  all  religion 
comes  to  be  considered  as  a  state  trick,and  a  barbarous  mum- 

•This  is  an  inconvenience  attending  civil  as  well  as  ecclesinstical  es- 
tabiishraeats,  which  haa  been  with  great  wisdooi  guarded  against  in 
the  new  American  Consitution  by  appointing  that  there  shall  be  a  re- 
visal  of  them  at  the  end  of  certain  terms.  This  will  leave  them  always 
open  to  improvemenf,  without  any  danger  of  those  convulsions  which 
have  usually  attended  the  correctiona  of  abuees  wl»en  they  hav«  ac- 
quired a  sacredness  by  time. 


\ 


21 


,tliat. 


^liery.  It  is  well  known,  that  in  some  popish  countries  tlMf'c 
are  few  christians  among  the  higher  ranks  of  meQ,the  rdlttiBfi 
of  the  state  being  in  those  coantries  mistaken  for  tneieUpilti 
of  the  Gospel.  This  indeed  shews  a  crimuial  inattentitiil  In 
those  who  fall  into  such  a  mistake  ;  for  they  ought  to  coniMtr 
that  Christianity  has  heen  grieTionisly  corrupted,and  that  tt^ii 
ideas  of  it  should  he  taken  from  the  New-Testament  only.  It 
is  however,  so  natural  to  reckon  Christianity  to  b6  that  Whicli 
it  is  held  out  to  be  in  all  establishments  of  it,that  it  cannot  but 
happen  that  such  an  error  will  take  place  and  produce  some 
of  the  worst  consequences.  There  is  probably  a  greater  num- 
ber of  rational  christians  (that  is,  of -christians  upon  enquiry) 
in  England,  than  in  all  popish  countries.  The  reason  is,  that 
the  religious  establishment  here  is  Popery  reformed ;  and  that 
a  considerable  body  dissent  from  it,  and  are  often  inculcating 
the  necessity  of  distinguishing  between  the  Christianity  es- 
tablished by  law  and  that  which  is  taught  in  the  Bible.  Cer- 
tain it  is,  that  till  this  distinction  is  made,  Christianity  can  nev- 
er recover  its  just  credit  and  usefulness. 

Such  then  are  the  effects  ofcivil  establishments  of  religioQ. 
?/[ay  heaven  soon  put  an  end  to  them.  The  world  will  never 
be  generally  wise,  or  virtuous,  or  happy,  till  these  enemies 
to  its  peace  and  improvement  are  demolished.  Thanks  be  to 
God,  they  are  giving  way  before  increasing  light.  Let  them 
never  shew  themeelvea  in  America.  Let  no  such  monster  be 
known  there  as  human%uthority  ki  matters  of  religion.  Let 
every  honest  and  peaceable  man,  whatever  is  his  faith,be  pro- 
tected there;  and  find  an  effectual  defence  against  the  attacks 
of  bigotry  and  intolerance.  In  the  United  States  may  religion 
flourish.  They  cannot  be  very  great  andliappy  if  it  does  not. 
^  But  let  it  be  a  better  religion  than  most  gf  those  which  have 
^  been  hitherto  professed  in  the  world.  Let  it  be  a  religion 
which  enforces  moral  obligations ;  not  a  religion  which  re- 
laxes and  evades  them.  A  tolerant  and  catholic  religion  ;  not 
a  rage  for  proselitism.  A  religion  of  peace  and  charity  j  not 
a  religion  that  persecutes,  curses  and  damns.  In  a  word,  let 
it  be  the  genuine  Gospel  of  peace  lifting  above  the  world, 
warming  the  heart  with  the-love  of  God  &  his  creatures,  and 
sustaining  the  fortitude  o£good  men  by  the  assured  hope  of  a 
future  deliverance  from  death,  and  an  infinite  reward  in  the 

CVeruiiiiiig  Kingaimi  Oj  OUT  iJutu  ktsu  KfuVivUf. 

From  the  preceding  observations  it  may  be  concluded,  that 
it  is  impossible  I  should  not  admire  ih^  following  article  in 
the  declaration  of  rights  which  forml'the  foundation  of  the 
Massachiieett's  constitution.  «^'  In  this  state  every  denomina- 


22 

4 

-  *.'       .  ,;i','hi'""'  *=""=""'"«  "■e'n.clves  i.e»coal,ly  &  as  good 
,Th«  ,-  liberal  bpj-oM  «ll  ..x..m|,le.     I  should,  however 

flcntatiTcs  or  seniite  shall  Horl--.,  »  Tk  •    ^  repre- 

^lu^:r^^'^^'i  ""'  «"'»-'«'™=  »<■  'he  Old  »nd  Nets 
™.re    hJ^'u^h"?  r'  *""'  '"^P'''"'''"-"  1"  the s.'te  of De  a 

more."  A°  I  this  ?,  m„!!  l{  ^' '•""''  """  ^'""^  '''''^«''  ^<"'«ver 
where  th™.lfc  J  "J""  "'.''"  '"  fe«l«'fe'l  even  in  England, 
rllls  in  "^5  every; person  however  debauched  or  atheist" 
"fcri;;C  Xr^::  «r '-m^en.  a,  a  quali/catit:'  br 
of  parliament  th»^  J  f^°^  "''  ^  '■"?"=««' ""  "'^"'•e" 
obse^atCno  lei  il."/h™''''"  ''^'^  ^"^^'S'    "  "  «° 

elude,  on W  hoae,^ien    The  .T"""!'  *'''" '"<^''    '«^'«''- 
""V  ""iiescmen.   ihe  dishonest  never  smmlA  thotn 

Mo„lesqu.eu  probably  wa,  not  a  christian     Newton  ."d" 

Locke  were  not  tri„itaria„s ;  and  therefore  not  chri^thns  ac 

eordrng  to  the  commonly  received  idea,  of  chris  iTnUy  WonU 

..e  United  Stotes,  for  this  reason,  deny  such  men,  were  th^v 

livmg,  all  places  of  trust  and  power  among  th",  ?  ^ 

Q        .   „  OF  EDUGATIOIV. 

TTnifpT  f        '*^*c  ""^  *^^"S'  which  I  vv/sh  to  take  place  in  the 

ate  a.  and  at  the  same  time  to  ^ive  it  (he  P-reatest  Iw/rT^ 

tt  ■;:'"•?:?'  'i^'"'  .--'<' Arn*  i'  mS.:ri:ess:5'=t'h:n" 

tne    ?t^  V  V.   oiencof  awise  and  liberal  plan  ofEducatJrn    u  ;» 

mjP^.^.  p.o.erfy  to  represent  the  ilnportlJ^:^^^.  's^ 

-^    ^ic  -.«,—..  .,1,  xiuiuic  Lu  uepena  ou  the  turn 

>-2n:hS';?t^'^r"r:Hr^r±u''"' !'•'••♦ '".»-  -">»"  "^  -» 

pl»oe  in  preference  ?o  any  oThe?     .  <l'^''oD>,„.iion  in  th.t 


I  as  good 
the  pro- 
!  sect  or 

owever, 
le  word« 
fee very 

e,  thRt  I 
t  of  sev- 
'onstitii- 
frepre- 
«sion  of 
lircfl  by 
itted  ill. 
y  mem- 
ire,that 
-Tcsta- 
fDela- 
sChrist 
'orever 
igland, 
theisti- 
ion  for 
ambers 
It  is  an 
est  ex- 
them. 
ID  and 
ms  ac- 
IVould 
iJ  they 


in  the 
•petu- 
'ct  on 
'  than 
.  It  is 
I.  So 
turn 

he  no 
a  that 


A'. 


2fi' 


ffiven  to  the  mmd  in  biirlv Tife  and  the  imprewions  then  inM 
Umt  I  have  often  thonglil  tho,     m^V  be  a  sefcret  remaini.rSf 
bethscovered  in  education,  .vhich  will  rause  future  ffene*   ium 
to  grow  up  virtuouH  6i  happy,  ami  atcelcrute  humxin  jaiufor«. 
went  to  a  greater  deg.otJ  than  cau  at  present  be  iinagin<  d. 

The  end  of  education  is  to  Urect  the  powers  of  the  nun^ 
in  unfolding  themselves  ;  ano  to  assist  thehiin  gainii.jf  their 
just  bent  and  force.  And  in  order  ^o  thi&,Tf8  business  should 
be  to  teach  how  to  think,  rather  that,  tvhat  tS  think  ;  or  to 
lead  into  the  best  way  of  searcphingTor  truth,  rather  than  to 
instruct  in  truth  it^^lf  A.forthe  latter  who  Ib  qualified  fur  it  ? 
Ihere   are   many  indeed  who  are  eager  to  under  take  this 

i^u      "^   u^?";.^'  ^"'^  '^^**  **»'"^  ^^''y  have  discovered 
luth,  and   hat  they  alorte  ai^  its  advocates  and  friends    But 


the  vf^ry  diiferent  and  incon8istent""ac7o"untelhVy' glTe  o7it 
they  are  titter  strangers  to  it  j  and  th^^t  it  is  bet- 


demonstrate 

ter  to  teach  nothing,  than  to  teach  whaV  th^y  .old  out  for 
truth.  The  greater  their  contidence,  the  great,  r  is  the  rea- 
8on  for  distrusting^  them  We  generally  see  th^  warmest 
zeal,  whdre  the  object  of  it  is  the  greatest  rionsen.^  •. 

buch  observations  have  a  particular  tendency  to  hew  that 

education  ought  to  be  an  initiation  into  candor,ratherthaniri. 

0  any  systems  of  Aiith  ;  and  it  should  form  a  habit  of  c  .ol  &.pa- 

*'^2  'Tl^'^"^"^'  »•"**»«/ t»»an  an  attachment  to  any  fpiuions. 

«ut  hitlicrto  education  has  been  conducted  on  a  c  Vntrary 
^V"li  w*  Vr  ^^^"  ""  contraction,  not  an  enlkrgemeni  of  the 
mte  leetual  f^iculties  ;  an  injection  of  false  principles  harden- 
mg  them  m  error,  not  a  discipline  enlightening  &  imr  oving 
them.  Instead  of  opening  &  strengthening  them,  &  teaL  ingto 
thmk  freely,it  hath  cramped  and  enslaved  them,and  qu.  uLd 
for  thmkiug  only  in  one  track.  Instead  of  instilling  hur  ility, 
chaPity,  and  liberality,  and  thus  prt^parin^  for  an  eusi.  dik! 
covery  ami  a  readier  admission  of  truth ;  it  has  inflated  vith 
conceit,  ^  stuffed  the  human  mind  with  wretched  prefud  ces. 

1  he  more  has  been  learnt  from  such  education,the  mo -e  it 
becomes  necessary  to  unlearn.  The  more  has  been  taught  iu 
tnis  way,  ol  so  much  the  more  must  the  mind  be  emptied  be- 
lore  true  msuum  caa.enter.  Such  was  education  in  the  ti  ne 
ol  the  hrst  teachers  of  Christianity.    By  furnishing  with  si,  ill 

Ilbll'"*"  5  i'ry.^f '*'"  and  sophistry,  and  producing  an  at- 

aciTnent  to  estabiished  sjoteuis,  it  turned  the  minds  of  men 

irom  truth   an<l  rendered  them  more  determined  to  resist  evi- 

fhTfi'  ■''f  '"""'''l  ^'P^^''^  ^^  ^''^^^«&  »t.    Hence  it  happened, 
that  this  heavenly  mstructibn,  when'first  communicated  was 

to  the  Jews  a  stumbling  block,  and  to  thz  Greeks  faoluhness  ;  and 


24 

thaUn  spite  of  miracles  themselves,  the  persons  who  reje<% 
Mm  with  most  disdain,  an^  who  opposed  it  with  most  vio- 
l^e,  were  those  who  had  been  educated  in  colleges,   and 
Wfere  best  versed  in  the  false  learning  of  the  times :  And  had 
it  taught  the*  true  philosophy  instead  of  the  true  religion,  the 
effect  would  have  been  the  same.The  doctrine  "that  the  sun 
stood  still  &  that  the  earth  moved  round  it,"  wmild  have  been 
reckoned  no  les^  absurd  and  incredible,  than  the  doctrine  ol  a 
crucified  Messiah.    And  tKe  men  who  would  have  treated 
such  an  instruction  with  most  contempt,  would  have  been  the 
wise  and  the  prudent ;  that  is,  tjxe  proud  ^QfhisiB  and  learned 
doctors  of  the  times,  who  had  studied  the  Ptoleijaaick  system 
of  the  workL  and  learnt  by  cycles  and  epicycles,  to  account 
for  airthe  motions  of  the  heaveojy  bodies,      ^  ,     .     .     ., 

In  like  manoer,  when  the  improvement  of  logic  »n  JWr. 
Lockers  Essay  on  the  Humau  Uhderstanding  was  first  publish- 
ed in  Britain,  the  persons  readiest  to  attend  to  it  and  to  re- 
ceive  it,  were  thoge  who  had  never  been  trained  m  colleges, 
and  whose  minds,  therefore,  had  never  beeiv  perverted  by  an 
instruction  in  the  jargon  of  the  schools.    To  the  deep  pro- 
fessors of  the  times,  it  appeared  (like  the  doctrine  taught  in 
his  book,  on  the  reasonableness  of  Christianity)  to  be  a  danger- 
ous novelty  and  heresy ;  and  the  University  of  Oxford,m  par- 
ticular, condemned  and  reprobated  the  author.     The  like 
happened  when  Sir  Isaac  Newton^^discovenes  were  farst 
published.    A  romance  (that  is,  the  Philosophy  of  Descartes) 
was  then  in  possession  of  the  philosophical  world.  Education 
had  rivetted  it  in  the  minds  of  the  learned;  and  it  was  twenty 
seven  years  before  Newton's  Principia  could  gam  sufticient 
credit  to  bring  it  to  a  second  edition.  Such  are  the  prejudices 
which  have  generallyprevailed'againstnewlights.  Such  the 
impediments  which  have  been  thrown  in  the  way  ot  improve- 
ment by  the  narrow  plan  of  education.  Even  now  the  princi- 
pal object  of  education  (especially  in  divinity)is  to  teach  es- 
tablished systems  as  certain  truths,  and  to  qualify  for  success- 
fully defending  them  against  opponents  ;  and  thus  to  arm  the 
mind  against  conviction,  and  render  it  impenetrable  to  lar- 
ther  light.     Indeed,  were  it  offered  to  my  opinion  which  i 
would  !jave,  the  plain  sense  of  common  and  untutored  man, 
or  the  deep  erudition  of  the  proud  scholars  and  P^of^^^^^ffJ" 
most  universities,  I  should  eagerly  prefer  the  former,  irom 
a  persuasiott  that  it  would  leave  me  at  a  less  distance  tropi 
real  wisdom.       An  unoccupied  and  simple  mind,  I  think,  inti- 
nitely  preferable  to  a  mind  wnrped  by  systems  ;  and  the  en- 
tire want  of  k^-arning  better  than  a  learning,  such  as  most  ol 


)  reject* 
nost  vio» 
jes,  and 
And  had 
gion.  the 
t  the  sun 
ave  been 
trine  of  a 
J  treated 
been  the 
i  learned 
ik  system 

0  account 

Ic  in  Mr. 
t  publish - 
aim  to  re- 
coHeges, 
•ted  by  an 
deep  pro- 
taught  in 
a  danger - 
>rd,in  par- 
The  like 
were  first 
Descartes) 
Education 
^as  twenty 

1  sufficient 
prejudices 
.  Such  the 
fimprove- 
the  princi- 
)  teach  es- 
or  success - 
to  arm  the 

Me  to  far- 
on  which  I 
tored  man, 
rofesBors  in 

^  «*      IV«r\r*% 

itance  from 

i  think,  infi- 

and  the  en- 

as  most  of 


25 

^t  is,  which  hitlierto  has  been  sought  and  admired— A 
flirmng  which  puffs  up,  while  in  reality  it  is  nothing  but  i*o- 
^andei-  ignorance  and  more  inveterate  prejudice  - 

^Jt  ma^  be  worth  adding  here,  that  a  narroW  educat^ 
^Should  It  ever  happon  not  to  produce  the  evils  now  mention- 
ed) will  probably  produce  equal  evils  of  a  contrary  nature,  i 
mean,  that  there  will  be  danger,  when  persons  so  educated 
come  to  soe  the  absurdity  of  some  of  the  opinions  in  whicii 
they  have  been  educated,  that  they  will  become  prciudiccd 
agams  them  all,  and,  consequently,  throw  them  all  awav,and 
nm  wild  mto  scepticism  and  infidelity.  At  present,  in  this 
pacl.  ot  the  world  this  is  a  very  common  event. 

1  am  by  no  means  qualified  tp  give  a  just  account  of  the 
particular  method  in  which  education  ought  to  be  conducted 
so  as  to  avoid  these  evils  ;  that  is,  so  as  to  render  the  m"ind 

i^  ?3"?      •!'*r  "^  '  ^T''  '''  ^''^^^^^S  evidence,  and  prepar. 
ed  to  fo.low  It  from  whatever  quarter,  and  in  whatever  man- 
ncr  It  may  offer  itself.  But  certain  it  is,  that  the  best  mode  of 
education  is  that  which  does  this  most  effectually  :    which 
guards  best  against  silly  prejudices  ;  which  inflames  most  with 
the  love  of  truth  ;  which  disposes  most  to  ingenuity  and  fair- 
hess,  leaves  the  ramd  most  sensible  of  its  own  need  of  farther 
information.  Had  this  been  always  the  aim  of  education,man. 
kind  would  now  have  been  farther  advanced.    It  supposes, 
however,an  improved  state  of  mankind  ;  and  wh-n  once  it  has 
taken  place,  it  will  quicken  the  progress  of  improvement. 

1  have,m  these  observations,expressed  a  dislike  of  systems: 
but  1  have  meant  only  to  condemn  that  attachment  t«  them  as 
standards  of  truth  which  has  been  too  prevalent.     It  may  be 
necessary  m  education  to  make  use  of  them ;  or  of  fcooks  ex- 
plaining them.     But  they  should  be  used  only  as  guides  and 
helps  to  enquiry.     Instruction  in  them  should  be  attended 
with  a  fair  exhibition  of  the  evidence  on  both  sides  of  every 
question ;  and  care  should  be  taken  to  induce  as  far  as  possible, 
a  habit  of  believing  only  on  an  overbalance  of  evidence  ;  and 
01  proportioning  assent  in  every  case  to  the  degree  of  that 
overbalance,  without  re.^ardingauthorily,  antiquity,sinffular- 
ity,  novelty,  or  any  of  the  prejudices  which  too  commonly 
influence  assent.     Nothing  is  ^o  well  fitted  to  produce  this 
habit  as  the  study  of  Mathematics.     In  these  sciences  no  ono 
ever  thinks  of  givmg  hia  assent  to  a  proposition  till  ^he  can 


givmg 

■ ^- *T,.-.-ss    it,  aiiu  ace    i 


proposition 
t  proved  hy  a  fair  deduction 


^         "  .  .       "-  -w,  ^i..^  cov.  »L  piovcu  uy  a  iHir  ueuuction 

trom  propositions  previously  understood  and  proved.  In  these 
sciences  the  mind  is  inured  to  close  and  patient  attention  ; 
sue  wn  the  nature  of  just  reasoning ;  and  taught  to  form  distinct 


H 


26 


1 


If 


ideas,  and  to 


rru  r  -^  P«c*G^ear  evidence  in  all  cases  be  fore  be«< 
1  ney  furnish,  therefore,  the  best  exercise  for  the  intellectill 
j^wers,  and  the  best  defence  against  that  credulity  and  pi- 
©ipitation  and  confusion  of  idea9,which  are  the  common  sow- 
€es  ot  error. 

There  is,  however,  a  danger  to  be  avoided  liere.  Mathe- 
matical studies  may  absorb  the  attention  too  mucK  ;  and  when 
they  do,  4hey  contract  the  mind  by  rendering  it  incapable  of 
thmkmg  at  large  ;  by  disqualifying  it  for  jixdging  of  any  evi- 
dence  except  mathematical ;  and,  consequently,  disposing  it 
to  an  unreasonable  scepticism  on  all  subjects  which  admjt  not 
of  such  evidence,  rhere  have  been  manv  instances  (Jf  this 
narrowness  in  mathematicians. 

But  to  return  fropi  this  digression,  I  cannot  help  observing* 
on  this  occasion  with  respect  to  Christianity  in  particular,  that 

thr.o  r-rf?^  l^^  u  ^-^  ^°  ^  ^^^''^  of  judgin^/of  it  as  it' is  in 
the  code  1  self  of  christiamty  ;  that  the  doctrines  it  reveal, 
should  be  learnt  only  from  a  critical  and  fair  enquiry  into  th,> 
sense  of  this  code  ;  and  that  all  instruction  in  it  should  be  a 
preparation  for  making  this  enquii^  and  a  communication  cf 
assistance  m  examining  into  the  proofs  of  its  divine  original, 
and  m  determining  to  what  degree  of  evi^lence  these  proofs 
amount,  after  allowing  every  difficulty  its  just  weight.    This 
has  never  yet  been  the  practice  among  Christians.  The  New- 
lestamenthas  been  reckoned  hitherto  an  iiTsufficient  stand- 
ard  of  Christian  Divinity  ;  and  therefore,  formularies  of  hu- 
man invention,  pretending  to  explain  and  define  it  (but  in  re- 
ality misrepresenting  and  dishonoring  it)  have  been  substitut- 
ed in  its  room  ;  and  teaching  these  has  been  called  teaching 
^Christianity.    And  it  is  very  remarkable,  that  in  the  English 
Oriiyersities  no  lectures  on  the   New   Testament  are  ever 
read,  or  even  suffered  to  be  read ;  and  that  through  all  Chris- 
tendom,  It  is  much  less  an  object  of  attentioa  than  the  systems 
and  creeds  which  have  been  fathered  upon  it. 

1  will  only  add  on  this  subject,  that  it  is  above  all  thinr»-s 
necessary  while  instruction  is  conveyed,  to  convey  with  it  a 
sense  ofthe  imbecility  of  the  human  mind,  and  of  its  great 
proneness  to  error;  and  also  a  disposition,e  ven  on  points  which 
seem  the  most  clear,  to  listen  to  objections,  a«d  to  consider 
nothing  as  involving  mit  our  final  interest  but  an  honest  heart. 
iNature  has  so^ade  us,  that  an  a/.tachment  must.take  place 
Within  us  in  nmdEmna  ««««  c^^^^^j  .  ___i  vl  '      .,  *^ . 

oK«„ij  u  i  -^  •  •  -"V(s^  i-^iii^cri  j  aim  u  rvas  proper  mai  we 

Should  be  so  made,  in  order  to  pre  r^ent  that  levity  and  desul- 
tormess  of  mind, which  must  have  been  the  consequence,  had 
^''?  been  ready  to  give  up  <Jur  opinions  too  easily  and  hastily 


'■'  ^-T^sesasjtar^n*.  •p.^tas-^ 


27- 


re  belfejf. 
ellectillil 
and  ppe- 

noQ  SOUT- 

Mathe- 
mdwhen 
ipable  of 
any  evi- 
posing  it 
idmit  not 
?s  (^f  this 

bserving 
liar,  that 
s  it  is  ill 
revealp 
into  th«> 
uW  be  a 
nation  of 
)riginal, 
D  proofs 
t.    This 
e  New- 
t  stand- 
s  of  hu- 
xt  in  re- 
ibstitut- 
2  aching 
English 
e  ever 
I  Chris- 
lystems 

things 
ith  it  a 
s  great 
I  which 
insider 

heart. 
B  place 
hat  vvt; 

desul- 
:c,had 
K!.sti1v 


natural  tend 


(len 


h 


„,.  ^ .  lowever  wisely  given   ub,  is  m 

t§extend  its  proper  limits,and  to  render  us  unreasonably  tl 
.-MSious.  It  ought,tlierefore,!ike  all  our  other  natural  propei^ 
ties,  to  be  carefully  watched  and  guarded  ;  and  educatS 
should  put  us  upon  doing  this.  An  observation  before  made 
snodd,  in  particular,  be  inculcated,  "  that  all  mankind  have 
hitherto  been  most  tenacious  when  most  in  the  wrong,&  reck- 
oned themselves  most  enlightened,  when  most  in  the  dark," 

This  is,  indeed,  a  very  mortifying  fact  ;  but  attention  to  it  is 
necessary  to  cure  that  miserable  pride  and  dogmaticalnesg 
which  are  some  of  the  worst  enemies  to  improvement    Who 
is  there  that  does  not  remember  the  time  when  he  was  entire- 
ly satisfied  about  points  whichMeeper  reflection  has  shewn  to 
be  above  his  comprehension  ?  Who,  foi- instance,  does  not  re- 
member  a  time  when  he  would  have  wondered  at  the  question, 
"why  does  water  run  ^own  hill  ?"  What  ignorant  man  is  there 
who  IS  not  persuaded  that  he  understands  this  perfectly  f  But 
every  improved  man  knows  it  to  be  a  question  he  cannot  an- 
swer ;    and  what  distinguishes  him  in  this  instance  from  the 
less  improved  part  of  mankind  is  his  knowing  this.    The  like 
IS  true  in  numberless  other  instances.  One  of  the  best  proofs 
ol  Wisdom  is  a  sense  of  our  want  of  wisdom ;  and  he  who  knows 
most,  possesses  most  of  this  sense.  In  thinking  of  myself  1  de- 
rive some  encouragement  from  this  reflection.  I  now  see,that 
I  do  not  understand  many  points  which  once  appeared  to  me 
very  clear.     The  more  I  have  inquired,  the  more  sensible  I 
have  been  growing  of  ray  own  darkness  ;    and  a  part  of  the 
history  of  ray  life  is  that  which  follows. 

In  early  life  I  was  struck  with  Bishop  Butler's  Malory  of 
religion  natural  and  revealed  to  the  constitution  and  course  of 
nature.     I  reckoned  it  happy  for  me  that   this  book  was  one 
oi  tiie  first  that  fell  mto  ray  hands.  It  taught  me  the  proper 
mode  of  reasoning  on  moral  and  religious  subjects,  and  parties 
ularly  the  importance  of  paying  a  due  regard   to  the  iinper- 
tectioa  of  human   knowledge.      His  sermons  also,  1   then 
thought,  and  do  still  think,  excellent.     Next  to  his  works    I 
have  always  been  an  admirer  of  the  writings  of  Dr.  Clark. 
And  I  cannot  help  adding,  however  strange  it  may  seem,  that 
I  owe  much  to  the  philosophical  writings  of  Mr.  Hume.which 
1  likewise  studied  early  in  life.     Though  an  enemy  to  his 

ability,  every  i)nnciple  of  truth  and  reason,  he  put  me  upon 
exanimmg  the  ground  -upon  which  I  stood,  and  taught  me  not 
hastdy  to  take  any  thing  for  granted.  The  first  fi-uits  of  mv 
reading  and  studies  were  hid  before  the  public  in  a  Treatise 


28 


exiled,  A  Review  of  tkepri>ncipal  Qvestions  and  Difficultiest 
Jmitnls.     This  publication  has  been  followed  by  many  othe 


•  ip  variotis  subjects.  And  now,  in  the  evening  of  a  life  dcv 
<d  to  inquiry  and  spent  in  endeavors(weak  indeed  and  feeble) 
to  serve  the  best  interests,present  and  future  of  mankind,!  am 
waiting  for  the  great  teacher,  convinced  that  the  order  of  na- 
ture is  perfect ;  that'infinite  wisdom  and  g'oodness  governs  all 
things ;  and  that  Christigiiiity  comes  from  God :  But  at  the 
same  time  puzzled  by  many  difficulti8S,anxiou3  for  more  light, 
and  resting  Avith  full  and  constant  assurance  only  on  this  one 
truth — That  the  practice  of  virtue  is  the  duty  arid  dignity  cf 
man ;  and  in  all  events^  his  wisest  and  safest  course. 


OF  THE  DANGERS  TO  WHICH   THE  AMERICAN  STATES 

ARE  EXPOSED. 
In  the  preceding  observations,  I  have  aimed  at  pointing 
out  the  means  of  pi-omoting  the  progress  of  improvement  in 
the  United  States  of  America.  I  have  insisted  particularly-,  on 
the  importance  of  a  just  settlement  of  the  federal  union,  and 
the  establishment  of  a  well-guarded  and  perfect  liberty  in 
Jipeculatron,in  government,in  education,and  in  religion.  The 
United  States  are  now  setting  out,  and  all  depends  on  the  care 
and  foresight  with  which  a  plan  is  begun,  which  hereafter 
will  require  only  to  be  strengthened  and  ripened.  This  is, 
therefore  the  time  for  giving  them  advice  ;  and  mean  advice 
(like  the  prese»t)  may  suggest  some  useful  hints.  In  this 
country,  when  any  improvements  are  proposed,  or  any  cor- 
rections arc  attempted,of  abuses  so  gross  as  to  make  our  boasts 
of  liberty  ridiculous,*  a  clamour  immediately  arises  against 
innovation,  and  an  alarm  spreads,  lest  the  attempt  to  repair 
should  destroy.  In  America  no  such  prejudices  can  operate. 
There  abuses  have  not  yet  gained  racredness  by  time.  There 
the  way  is  open  to  sodal  dignity  and  happiness ;  and  reason 
ttiay  utter  her  voice  with  confidence  and  success. 


— '^1  W<i  II 


OF  DEBTS  AND  INTERNAL  WARS. 

1  have  observed  in  the  introduction  to  this  address,  that  the 

American  States  have  many  dangers  to  shun.  In  what  follows 

i  shall  give  a  brief  recital  of  some  of  the  chief  of  these  dan- 

;^ers.     The  danger  from  an  endless  increase  of  publick  debts 

has  bee«^  alrpndv  snfhr.ipnflv  nof irpd- 

*The  majority  of  (he  British  House  of  Coaimon?  is  chosen  by  a  few 
<I:ousaud3  of  the  drcg^s  of  the  people,  who  are  coiistanll3'  paid  for  their 
•voic«.  Is  it  not  ridiculous  to  call  a  country  so  governed  free  ?  See  a 
striking  account  cf  the  ptato  of  the  British  Parliamentary  Ri;presenta- 
tionia  M?.  BurgVa  roliticul  Dipquioitions,  VoJ.  1,  p.  ;?9,  &c. 


flll>v 


29 


Ucultiei 
ny  othei. 
ife  dcvci% 
id  feeble) 
hind,I  am 
der  of  nji* 
►verns  all 
ut  at  the 
ore  light, 
1  this  one 
dignity  cf 


STATES 

;  pointing 
ement  in 
ilarlj',  on 
nion,  and 
liberty  in 
ion.  The 
I  the  care 
le  re  after 
This  is, 
m  advice 
In  this 
any  cor- 
MT  boasts 
IS  against 
to  repair 
operate. 
.  There 
id  reason 


,  that  the 
X  follows 
ese  dan- 
ick  debts 


I  by  a  few 
1  for  their 
:;e  ?  Sec  a 
ipresenta- 


r 


^articular  notice  has  been  likewise  taken  cf  the  dtustfcir 
|0m  internal  wars.  Again  and  again,!  would  urge  the  ne%«|- 
glty  of  pursuing  every  measure  and  using  every  precautvon 
which  can  guard  against  this  danger.  It  will  be  shocking  1^ 
see  in  the  new  world  a  repetition  of  all  the  evils  w'hicb  ha|M|| 
hitherto  laid  waste  the  old  world — War  raging  where  pea^^ 
and  liberty  wfere  thought  to  have  taken  their  abodes ;  the 
points  of  bayonets  and  the  mouths  of  cannon  settling  disputes, 
instead  of  the  collected  wisdom  of  the  confd^de  ration ;  and  per- 
haps one  restless  and  ambitious  State  rising  by  bloody  con- 
quests above  the  rest,  and  becoming  a  sovereign  state,  claim- 
ing impiously  (as  Britain  once  did)  "  full  authority  to  make 
laws  that  shall  bind  its  sister  Stales  in  all  cases  whatever," 
and  drawing  to  itself  all  atlvantages  at  their  expense.  I  de- 
precate this  calamity.  I  shudder  when  I  consider  how  pos- 
sible it  is  ;  and  hope  those  persons  are  mistaken,  who  think 
that  such  are  the  jealousies  which  govern  human  nature,  and 
such  the  imperfections  of  the  best  human  arrangements,that 
it  is  not  within  the  reach  of  any  wisdom  to  discover  any  effec- 
tual meaus  of  preventing  it  without  encroaching  too  much  on 
the  hberty  and  independence  of  the  States.  I  have  mentioned 
r.n  enlargement  of  the  power  of  Congress.  Others  have  pro- 
posed a  consolidation  of  the  powers  of  government  in  one 
Parliament  representing  all  the  States,  and  superseding  the 
particular  parliaments  by  which  they  are  now  separately 
governed.  But  it  is  43bvious,  that  this  will  be  attended  with 
greater  inconveniences,  and  encroach  more  on  the  lib- 
erty of  the  States,  than  the  enlargement  I  have  proposed  of 
the  powers  of  Congress.  If  such  a  parliament  is  not  to  su- 
persede any  of  the  other  parliaments,  it  will  be  the  same 
with  Congress  as  at  present  constituted. 

OF  AN  UNEQUAL  DISTRIJ3UTION  Of  PROPERTY. 
It  is  a  .  trite  observation,  that  "dominion  is  founded  on  pro- 
perty." Most  free  states  have  manifested  their  sense  of  the 
truth  of  this  observation,  by  studying  to  find  out  means  of  pre- 
venting ;oo  great  an  inequality  in  the  distribution  of  property. 
What  tumults  were  occasioned  at  Rome  in  its  best  times  by  at- 
tempts to  carry  into  execution  the  Agrarian  law  ?  Among  the 
people  of  Israel,  by  the  divection  of  heaven,  all  estates  which 

nnn  bp.pn  nlinnnffifJ  rlnrinw  i^■n%  /^rtuvsA  r\f  AT+ir  tmoxa    «u%4.inT^<-.^ 

to  their  original  owners  at  the  end  of  that  term.  One  of  the 
circumstances  that  has  been  most  favorable  to  the  American 
States  in  forming  their  new  constitutions  of  government  h;is 
been  the  equality  which  subsists  among  them. 

C2 


!l 


30 

.»vS^  happiest  stale  of  man  is  tl.e  mid.lln  state  !;ctn-ocnB| 
HvK/'tof'i:"''  '"">'"y  the  hand  onnS"':  ^1 

VonetTht&f:?:jP^''r'l-''' ■".=*?  it  impossible  for 
consider  Wnwlf  nf  hV^  ""^  °'^«°s'a'''''»  the  rest,  or  to 

to  them  mavhoroafLvh^^^^      \     .•  ^omu  approacties 

merit  to  be^--r  ?^"  ^^^"^^  "^  ^'"^«'  *>«sides  personj^ 
mos   of  the  ,^,"^^"'^«%«^^.\«t.^tion,as  to  exclude  from^society 

and  happv  oxiP-ht    nl7^  ^^}  '""^"^^  contmue   virtuous 

^Kflr'^'^'^''.'  ^^^*  *!^erc  are  <Am  enemies  to  ennnlity  .o-aif^cj 
--xivu  .-iiiierica  oug-ht  to  guard  ^  '*      -^,-^,1.1.01 


1:: 


31 


tnecn 
he  luxuri- 
ticut,  and 
nhabilantH 
and  hardy 
instructed 
manners  • 
und  ;  and 
itry  ;  and 
length  of 
le  haugh- 
tiknown  ; 
t  oppress; 
e  places, 
intrigue. 
5  happy  ; 
ce  of  the 
nger  that 
ion  ;  that 
at  equal- 
ing shew 
y degen- 
)ress  and 
)gress  of 
ter  turn, 
His.  &c.) 
lunity  of 
sible  for 
!St,  or  to 
i  that  of 
leasing; 
roaches 
rmnent 
erson?^ 
society 
5  out  of 
ntial  to 
irtuous 
5  not  in 
I  will 


ao*nip< 


ey,  &;c. 
chosen, 
tatives 


V  First — Granting  hereditary  honors  and  titles  of  noHl^y. 
jpersons  thus  distinguished,  though  perhaps  meaner  than  i^lt 
ineanest  of  their  dependents,are  apt  to  consider  themselvel^ 
belonging  to  a  higher  order  of  beings,  &  made  for  power  MMi 
government.  Their  birth  and  rank  necessarily  dispose  th^p 
to  be  hostile  to  general  liberty  ;  and  when  they  are  not  so  atiil 
discover  a  just  zeal  for  the  rights  of  mankind,  it  is  always  a 
triumph  of  good  sense  and  virtue  over  the  temptations  of  their 
situation.  It  is  therefore,with  peculiar  satisfaction  that  1  have 
found  in  the  articles  of  confederation  an  order  that  no  titles  of 
nobility  shall  be  ever  grantedT)y  the  United  States.  Let  there 
be  honor  to  encourage  merit ;  but  let  them  die  with  the  mien 
who  have  earned  them.  Let  them  not  descend  to  posterity  to 
foster  a  spirit  of  domination,  and  to  produce  a  proud  and  ty- 
rannical aristocracy.  In  a  word,  let  the  United  States  con- 
tinue forever  what  it  is  now  their  glory  to  be,  a  confederation 
of  States  prosperous  and  happy,  without  Lords,  without  Bish- 
ops,* and  without  Kings. 

Secondly — The  right  of  primogeniture.  The  tendency  of 
this  to  produce  an  improper  inequality  is  very  obvious.  The 
disposition  to  raise  a  name,  by  accumulating  property  in  one 
branch  of  a  family,  is  a  vanity  no  less  unjust  and  cruel,  than 
dangerous  to  the  interest  of  liberty ;  and  no  wise  state  will  en- 
courage or  tolerate  it. 

Thirdly-^Foreign  Trade  is  another  of  the  enemies  against 
which  I  wish  to  caution  the  United  States.  But  this  operates 
'unfavorably  to  a  State  in  so  many  more  ways  than  by  destroy- 
ing that  equality  which  is  the  basis  of  liberty,  that  it  will  be 
proper  to  take  more  particular  notice  of  it. 


OF  TRADE,  BANKS  AND  PAPER  CREDIT. 
Foreign  trade  has,  in  some  respects,  the  most  useful  ten- 
dency. By  creating  intercourse  between  distant  kingdoms, 
it  extends  benevolence,  remeves  local  prejudices,  leads  every 
man  to  consider  himself  more  as  a  citizen  of  the  world  than  of 
any  particular  State,  and  consequently,  checks  the  excesses 

^^  I  do  not  mean  by  Bishops  any  officers  among  Christians  merely 
spiritinal  ;  but  Lords  spiritual,  as  distinguished  from  Lords  temporal, 
or  Clergymen  raised  to  pre-eminence,  and  iave^^ted.with  6ivil  honors 
and  authority  by  a  State  establishment. 

1  liiust  auu,  iiiaL  vy   ntiat,  is  i:ctc  suiu  i  mu  uuixacuzi  itj  express  szgcii^ 

eral  preference  of  a  republican  constitution  of  government.  There  is  a 
degree  of  political  degeneracy  which  unGte  for  such  a  constitution.— 
Britain  in  particular,  consists  too  much  of  the  high  and  the  low,  (of 
scum  and  dreg)  to  admit  of  it.  Nor  will  it  suit  America,  should  it 
ever  become  equally  corrupt. 


* 


»i-*  32 

orawr^ove  of  o,,r  coimlry*  whicl.  l,as  been  applaude-f  a. 
OM  of  the  uoblcrit,  but  which,  really  is  one  of  II  e  ml  He 
sjwtive  principle,  in  human  nature      Trac^  a   o,  by  cna: 
MW  every  country  to  <lra,v  from  other  countries  ccnven'en 
c«an<l  advantages  which  it  cannot  find  within  itself"  produ 
«.  among  nations  a  sense  of  mutual  dependence,  and  pro- 

S^  r  '  K^t"!!;'''  ""?'•<»'*■»/"'•  1*"'  'here  is  no  p'art  of  ma^- 
kmd  o  which  these  uses  of  trade  are  of  less  consequence 
than  the  American  States,  within  themselves.  They  are 
spread  ov^r  a  great  continent,  and  make  a  world  within  them 
pelves.  The  country  they  inhabit  includes  soils  ^nd  dimates 
ofallsorts,producmg  not  only  every  necessary,but  eve  Tcon- 
vemence  of  hfe  And  the  vast  rivers  and  wid'e-sprca^lake, 
which  intersect  .t,   create  such  an  inland  communication  be! 

th'e  earti-      Thet^no"'  "/f  ""''"»'^'' '"  ""y  <"l>er  reg  on  :? 
the  eartl..     They  possess  then  within  themselves  the  best 

means  of  the  most  profitable  internal  traffic,  and  the  amo'e^t 
r.ZV"  ";^^''/  should  they  look  much  fa'rtTer     wTa"^  oc 
casion  can  they  have  for  being  anxious  about  pushinrfore,™ 
trade  ,•  or  even  about  raising  a  great  naval  force  JBritarfn 
deed,  consisting  as  it  does  of  unarmed  inhabitants,and  thrVa" 
ened  as  itia  by  amb  tious&  powerful  n*iiThl.,„.„  l"    '"5'""- 
to  maintain  it/e,istence  lon^  after  bL^itgop^n  to  inl^iS: 
by  losing  Its  naval  superiority.     But  this  is  LtTe  c.  so  wuS 
the  American  States.     They  have  no  powerful  neiZorT  o 

?rt  P,?.:"^*  ^"«""'='»»«  be  crossed  before  th^v  can  be 
attacked.  The,y  are  all  a  well  trained  militia  Tand  [he  sue 
cessful  resistance  which,  in  their  infancy  and  Without  a  n^val 

ollwrcoantrie..    But  thi,  hMZt  b^f^fJ^'J'.J  "sLtrlJi^f '",f' 

conquest  and  dominion"?  'Zll  iVktT:Z.yZTCJ^  ^'^Z'"' 
Spaniard,  4c.  but  a  spot  where  he  eniovs  na  ri*hf?  l^^V  'b  ". 
by  owners  a,  if  he  was  a  beast  ?  and  what  i  ^h  'l„?  ,  ?■  ''°''"'  °' 
but  an  attachment  to  degradation  and  Jlaver^  What  Jr^he'w'^; 

J!p?pZ7c?„s^^rTr„\s^f» 

what  was  it,  however  ereat  in  inVnv  nf  i/  ^"^°"S  ^^^  Romans  also 
hddin,  .„,^.her  air„i;?UVri:^tfaS^:L-S.^,?^^^^ 

™anki'„d  ,.  h^s  dTe  whi  s":  iltt  ;;Xr''lth:fr:c""  ""■'?', 
Universal  Benevolence.  """t-ij  oetter—U  has  recoiumended 


"^  -^1 


also 


33 

r#fte,  thoy  have  rapde  to  the  invasion  of  the  first  EutNliiean 
power,  will  probably  discourag-e  and  prevent  all  future  iHI^- 
dion.i.  Thus  singularly  happy,  why  should  they  seek  conneX*- 
ions  with  Europe,  and  expose  themselves  to  the  danger  df 
bein*  involved  in  its  quarrels  ?  What  have  they  to  do  with  its 
politics  ?  Is  there  any  thing  very  important  to  them  whicll 
thoy  can  draw  from  thence — except  infection  ?  Indeed  I 
tremble  when  I  think  of  that  rcu^e  for  trade  which  is  likely  to 
prevail  among  them.  It  may  do  them  infinite  mischief.  All 
nations  are  spreading  snares  for  them,  and  courting  them  to 
a  dangeroos  intercourse.  Their  best  interest  requires  them  to 
guard  themselves  by  all  proper  means  ;  and,  particularly,by 
laying  heavy  duties  on  importation.  But  in  no  case  will  any 
means  succeed  unless  aided  by  manners.  In  this  instance,  par- 
ticularly, there  is  reason  to  fear  that  an  increasing  passion 
for  foreign  frippery  will  render  all  the  best  regulations  inef- 
fectual. And  should  this  happen,  that  simplicity  of  character, 
that  manliness  of  spirit,  that  disdain  of  tinsel  in  which  true 
di';^nity  consists,  will  disappear.  Effeminacy ,8ervility  and  ve- 
nality will  enter ;  and  liberty  and  virtue  be  swallowed  up  in 
the  gulph  of  corruption.  Such  may  be  the  course  of  events  in 
the  American  States.  Better  infinitely  will  it  be  for  them  to 
consist  of  bodies  of  plain  and  honest  farmers,  rather  than  opu- 
lent and  splendid  merchants.  Where  in  these  States  do  the 
purest  manners  prevail  ?  Where  do  the  inhabitants  live  most 
on  an  equality,  and  most  at  their  ease  ?  Is  it  not  in  thoi^e  inland 
parts  where  agriculture  gives  healtb'and  plenty,  and  trade  isr 
scarcely  known  ?  Where,  on  the  contrary,  are  the  inhabitants 
most  seltish,luxurious,loose,and  vicious;  and  at  the  same  time 
most  unhappy  ?  Is  it  not  along  the  sea  coast,  and  in  the  great 
towns,  where  tirade  flourishes  and  merchants  abound  ?  So 
striking  is  the  effect  of  these  different  situations  on  the  vigour 
and  happiness  of  human  life,  that  in  the  one  population  would 
lang'.nsh,did  it  receive  no  aid  from  emigrations ;  while  in  the 
other  it  increases  to  a  degree  scarcely  ever  before  known. 

But  to  proceed  to  some  observations  of  a  different  nature. 

The  United  States  havH,  I  think,  particular  reason  to  dread 
the  following  effects  of  foreign  trade. 

By  increasing  importation  to  feed  luxury  and  gratify  prodi- 
gality, it  will  carry  put  their  coin,  and  occasion  the  substitu 


♦!/>!>  ofn.  flp.ln?.! V4>  "in.''*?'. r  ciirrcncv 


the  conseouence  of  which 


will  be,  that  ideal  wealth  will  take  place  of  real,  and  their  se- 
curity come  to  depend  (as  the  security  of  Britain  does)  on  the 
strength  and  duration  of  a  bubble.  I  am  very  sensible  that 
piper  credit  is  one  of  the  greatest  of  all  conveniences;  but  this 


t* 


utions.  A  pulh 


.        '  34 

B«rt  when  it  «  not  cSrrn.nv  .„.,      /".'''■T"''''''?  '"  ""  "«<'"• 
e«feions  CKce-fthfrir  •'^^  rcslnctcl  and  watched ;  when  its 

Jl*.r  the  utmost  oiVth  thai  .1?  "Ti"""'' '  ?"''  "«  <=«"'«'' 

iWlow;  and  when  r£„i„l„'    '^""  '!'^"««  '''^""'  P-blic  Hill 

to  dc;end  o,.  the  per^nir^rnV  "''''"  P«™'"'«'«^«  comes 

cun..nance«  a  B-,nt  ?1.„?-.k  ,     P"  I-'""  «''«'l"'"y  ■  'n  these  cir- 

balance  of  I'rade  „  '  ,„r  ^''  'V,""^  ''"■ "  """^  ('hat  i,,  while  a 

a  mine  from  wh7rh  n  iL„,  ^      f™.  ^ '"'"'"  ""  ">«  ^-^Is  of 
by  filling  a  kiZTom  J^'  I      T^  he  d.  awn  in  a  minute  ;   a„a 

iy  S,  aniliveltTSnT^f'n'"'^'''  '*  '"P"""  "f^'^'aining 
stances,  I  sav^fotw  hsLw  ,?,"'"'''""'"'^'=-  '"  ™<^''  "■•'='"»- 
a  P«b«;  Bani' mS a '^^p    fe' at"    tXm^v  "t" ^ '' 

an  approaVhiug  c^v^irn""'""'-^  '"  "'"''^  ""=  "^'^^^  "^ 

3el'.^oS^£sri*^i;Te''/thr*o^'  '"'"'■  "'""^^^  «"- 
I  have  aiJuHprl    a^K  J,  i       a^&ree  the  consequences  to  which 

aaemis^^on  :f  pa^p^erCrcht?  '^''"'f '!  «'™"Sb  the  war  bj 
now  has  lost  aU  value         i«  \   f  °?  '"'"^  '  -"P"'''  »"''  "'"'ich 

cured  on  no  fZraud  iucapable  o'fV"''^^        """'  '"'"=  '^- 
i«  should  eTerh-fv^  ^^."^     J    «  bemg  exchanged  for  coin, 

important  purp-^e       ""  "  '""'"^^'  "  »^'»«'«<i  W 

"hall-put  it  off  forete'r  '"'"'''  "^^  '"'  '"'"P'^''  "-hich 

n.,.  .  ''f  OATHS, 

ia  orS  robSn  r '' ^"'"'^l- ""  '^""«^  ''avehad  recourse, 

curing  .hi\t2;'o7,w  „":r.:  '""b^u";'  .^^r'"'"  /r'^  "^  '^^ - 

lish  that  imprecation  whT'il:...  __',*.'■""'''  "<"  ^ow  to  re. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  such  „e;es';rw7r;;w  '""'  <"?»«*■ 
gined.  An  affirmation  sole  nnirmale  wi  h  """T°y  '"""■ 
ver«  penalties  onfalsehood  ^CTt::^^'^^^ 


; 


'i.\ 


35 


3-  A  puii- 
nrnerce, 
8  credit, 
vhen  its 
carried 
>lic  will 

e  C0D1C8 

lese  cir- 
wiiile  a 
uii,  and 
ends  of 
3 ;   and 
itaining 
lircum- 
Ltag'es, 
!  kiiig-- 
Ttions, 
rror  of 

jse  ob- 
which 
var  hy 
which 

ng  se- 
[•  coin, 
id  any 

more 
pport 
md  to 
rpro- 
!r  du- 
•ophe 
God 
r^hich 


iirsG, 

r  se- 
)  re. 
»ath. 
ima. 
r  se-> 
ibly 


.1 


f 


arawer  all  the  ends  of  oath^.  I  am,  therefore,di«pos€(ltowiai. 
that  in  the  U.  States  imprecatory  oaths  may  be  aboi^l^, 
and  the  same  induljp^cnce  in  this  respect  granted  to  all  wj 
in  now  granted  to  the  Quakers.  Buti  am  afraid  they' 
think  this  too  dangerous  an  experiment ;  and  what  is  of  u^,. 
consequence  is  to  avoid,  First,  Such  a  mutiplicity  of  oaths  !• 
will  render  them  too  familiar. 

And  Secondly,  A  slight  manner  of  administering  them.  En- 
gland, in  this  respect,  seems  to  be  siink  to  the  lowest  possible 
degree  of  degeneracy.  Oaths  among  us  are  required  on  so 
many  occasions  and  so  carelessly  administered,  as  to  have  lost 
almoHt  all  their  use  and  efficacy.  It  has  been  asserted,  that 
including  oaths  of  office,oaths  at  elections,cu9toffl-hou3e  oaths, 
&c.  &c.  there  are  about  a  million  of  perjuries  committed  in 
this  kingdom  annually.  This  is  one  of  the  most  atrocious  of 
our  national  iniquities ;  and  it  is  a  womler  if  we  are  not  to  be 
visited  for  it  with  some  of  the  severest  of  God's  judgments. 

OF  THE  NEGRO  TRABE  AND  SLAVERY. 

The  Negro  Trade  cannot  be  censured  in  language  too  se- 
vere. It  is  a  traffic  which,  as  it  has  been  hitherto  parried  on, 
is  shocking  to  humanity,  cruel,  wicked,  and  diabolical.  I  am 
happy  to  find  that  the  United  States  are  entering  into  mea- 
sures for  discountenancing  it,  and  for  abolishing  the  odious 
slavery  which  it  has  introduced.  Till  they  have  done  this,  it 
will  uot  appear  they  deserve  the  liberty  for  which  they  have 
been  contending.  For  it  is  self-evident,  that  if  there  are  any 
men  whom  they  have  a  right  to  hold  in  slavery,  there  may  be 
others  who  have  had  a  right  to  hold  them  in  slavery.  I  am 
sensible,  however,  that  this  is  a  work  which  they  cannot  ac- 
complish at  once.  The  emancipation  of  the  Negroes  must,  I 
suppose,  be  left  in  some  measure  to  be  the  effect  of  time  and 
of  manners.  But  nothing  can  excuse  the  United  States  if  it  is 
not  done  with  as  much  speed  and  at  the  same  time  with  as 
much  effect,  as  their  particular  circumstances  and  situation 
will  ali»ow.  1  rejoice  that  on  this  occasion  I  can  recommend 
to  them  the  example  of  my  own  country-.  In  Britain,  a  Ne- 
gro becomes  a  freeman  the  moment  he  sets  his  foot  on  British 
ground. 

Such  is  the  advice  which  I  would  humbly  (but  earnestly) 
offer  to  the  United  States  of  America.  Such  are  the  means  by  ' 
which  they  may  become  the  seats  of  liberty,  science,  peace. 


1  36 

*        3^^"«J  ^^VVy  within  themselves,  and  a  refuge  toJhe 

LiS^^w?  ^^'*'^*  employed  in  writing  these  r«pers,  hMi 
pmbedior  n  warning  voice  of  more  power.  The  present  rao- 
OliOt,  however  auspicious  to  the  United  States,  if  wisely  ita- 
proved,  13  critical ;  and  though  apparently  the  end  of  all  (heir 
dangers,  may  prove  the  time  of  their  greatest  danger.  I  have, 
indeed,  smce  finishing  this  Address  been  mortitied  more  than  I 
can  express  by  accounts  which  have  led  me  to  fear  th;it  I  have 
carried  my  ideas  of  them  too  high,  and  aeceived  myself  ivith 
Visionary  expectations.     And  should  this  be  true  ;  should  the 
return  of  peace  and  the  pride  of  independence  lead  them  to 
security  and  dissipation  ;  should  they  lose  those  virtuous  and 
simp  e  manners  by  which  alone  Republics  can  long  subsist ; 
should  false  refmement,  luxury,  and  impiety,  spread  among 
them ;  excessive  jealousy  distract  their  governments  ;  and 
clashing  interests,  sulject  to  no  strong  controul,  break  the 
lecferal  union.^-The  consequence  will  be,  that  the  faire-^t  ex- 
periment ever  tried  in  human  affairs  will  miscarry  ;  and  that 
a  Revolution  which  had  revived  the  hopes  of  good  men  and 
promised  an  opening  to  better  tioies,  will  become  a  discour- 
agement to  all  future  efforts  in  favor  of  liberty,  and  prove 
only  an  opening  to  new  scenes  of  human  degeneracy  and  mis- 
cry* 


^ 


Abrc  /or  jia^-e  4th.— Who  could  liave  thought,  in  the  firrt  a^es  of 
the  world,  that  mankind  w»nld  acquire  (he  power  «f  detertuininc  the 
diatanceB  and  magnitudes  of  th«  sun  and  planets  ?     Who,  even  at  the 
beginning  of  this  century,  would  have  thought  thut  in  a  few  years  thev 
would  acquire  the  power  of  subjecting  to  their  wills  the  dreadful  force 
01  lightning,  and  ol  %ing  in  aerostatic  machines  ?— The  Just  of  these 
powers,  though  so  long  undiscovered,  is  i^nly  an  easy  ani)hcaUon  of  a 
power  always  known  and  familiar.     Many  similar  discoveries  may  re- 
main to  be  made,  which  will  give  new  directions  to  human  affairs  ;  & 
It  may  not  perhaps  be  too  extravajrant  to  imagine  that  Fshould  civil 
government  throw  no  obstacles  in  the  way]  the  progress  of  improve- 
ment  will  not  cease  till  it  has  excluded  from  the  earth,  not  only  vick 
and  wAn,  but  even  death  itself,  and  restored  that  PARAf.isAiCAi. 
Slate,  which,  according  to  the  Mosaic  history,  preceded  our' present 

.f^y' f%^  P^Se  24th.-.The  imperfection  of  real  knowtfdge  may 
^hl.  P'-^^^f*  «n  unreasonable  incredulity.  Had  the  bes*  philoso- 
phers  been  told  a  few  years  ago  "that  there  existed  fish* 5  whirh  h.d 
thL"r""iTt?  «'■  .J-^^HTJ^JNO,  and  always  used  it  to  kilf  their  prey," 
they  would  have  thought  the  information  absurd  and  ridiculous. 


